Musicians from the UK’s leading string orchestra join forces with clarinettist Matthew Hunt to explore the nuanced beauty of two of the most cherished pieces in the clarinet repertoire: Mozart and Brahms’s clarinet quintets.
Scottish Ensemble are pleased to welcome leading clarinettist Matthew Hunt to join them on this Scottish tour, which will visit Dumfries (7 Oct), Perth (8 Oct), Edinburgh (9 Oct), Inverness (10 Oct), Glasgow (12 Oct) and Kirkcudbright (14 Oct).
As well as holding the esteemed position of solo clarinettist with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Matthew is also a member of the Sheffield based chamber group Ensemble 360.
Mozart and Brahms wrote just one clarinet quintet each, both in the final years of their lives. But it’s their inherent quality and charm, not only their solitary status, which has always made these quintets stand out amongst each composer’s repertoire.
Mozart’s is now not only one of his best-known pieces, but one of the most cherished in the clarinet repertoire, and it’s easy to see why: moments of understated virtuosity bloom from a soft, calm, mellow beauty. Brahms’ quintet – modelled on Mozart’s, as so many of his works are – is similarly autumnal in mood, with waves of contemplative major and melancholic minor moods shifting like sunlight.
SE musicians will also perform a movement from a piece by American composer John Luther Adams taken from his first string quartet, written at the age of 59 in tribute to his late friend. (N.B. this piece will not be performed in Perth.)
Chamber Notes was first performed this August in Plockton, and on Skye and Mull, as part of Scottish Ensemble’s ongoing community and creative learning activities. The group also delivered a workshop with the young string players of the Mull Music Makers group, and two workshops for secondary school children in conjunction with Plockton High School, and SEALL at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. On Sunday 14 October, the concert forms part of the Kirkcudbright Festival of Light.