 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
John Verrall (1908-2001) was a 20th century American composer whose body of work includes a wide variety of instrumental, orchestral, chamber and vocal music, as well as three operas and a film score. During his long tenure on the composition faculty at the University of Washington, John Verrall was a beloved teacher and mentor to hundreds of young composers and performers, including Michael Davenport, then a young clarinetist at the university. It was through her father and duo partner Michael that Kimberly became aware of Verrall's powerful Piano Sonata. Her fascination with the work led to the discovery of more, and finally to this recording. Kimberly Davenport is best known for her piano work with Duo Alea, which has released three critically acclaimed CDs of original music and transcriptions for bass clarinet and piano. The program on this CD was conceived in the same spirit as these earlier recordings - with a passion for bringing to life powerful music which has remained largely and undeservedly 'in the drawer' - unpublished and underperformed. Verrall's elementally expressive and accessible style is revealed in this solo piano program, recorded in April 2005 in Tacoma, Washington. Included are Sketches and Miniatures (1954), Sonata I (1951), Theme and Variations: Eleven Variations on an Original Theme (1945, revised 1984) and Autumn Sketches (1956). Both the Sonata I and the Theme and Variations are artistic achievements, among the most powerful works of their era, while the shorter pieces are true sketches -- highly evocative explorations of mood and form, achieved with economy and simplicity. Kimberly holds a Master of Music from Northwestern University, and Bachelors degrees in music from the University of Washington. Check out the artist's website: http://www.bassclarinet.org/duo.html Track List: 1. Prelude I 2. Canons 3. Intermezzo 4. Fughetta I 5. Allegretto 6. Prelude II 7. Fughetta II 8. Arietta 9. Fugue 10. Bizarria 11. Sonata I: Allegretto 12. Sonata I: Vivace 13. Sonata I: Adagio e serioso 14. Theme and Variations: Eleven Variations on an Original Theme 15. Evening in September 16. Aspens in the Sun 17. Autumn Loneliness 18. Autumn Splendor 19. First Frost Suggested CDs:
|