Clarke, rebecca sonata for viola and piano 1919 chester. Mar 03, 2012 morpheus for viola and piano rebecca clarke. Jeremy berry, viola michael refvem, piano rebecca clarke. Violin, viola, piano level c moderately difficult composed by rebecca clarke 18861979. Rebecca thacher clarke was a pioneering female musician and composer of the early twentieth century.
Rebecca clarke 27 august 1886 october 1979 was an english classical composer and violist best known for her chamber music featuring the viola. Here is my arrangement of jonathan coultons still alive from the video game portal. Rebecca clarke morpheus for piano solo youtube rebecca clarke viola sonata with score duration. Lullaby and grotesque version for viola and cello play streams in full or download mp3 from classical archives, the largest and best organized classical music site on the web. Initially studying violin at the royal academy of music in london. Viola sonata rebecca clarke concerts, introduction. Shorter pieces for viola and piano by rebecca clarke, 9780193865990, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. York, incidentally, is creating a performing edition of the rhapsody in collaboration with the rebecca clarke estate.
She was a wonderful violist and composer and played with musicians such as pablo casals, myra hess and arthur rubinstein. The piece shows off the impressionistic musical language clarke had developed, modeled on the music of claude debussy and ralph vaughan williams, that. A note to you is a joint production of northeastern university and wgbh, boston. This concert is celebration of rebecca clarke, a composer, violaplayer and one of the first female musicians to perform in a professional orchestra, featuring her viola sonata with lso violist lander echevarria and pianist. Clarke had moved to the united states in 1916, after being disowned by her father. The piano is a full partner to the viola, contributing an equal share of melodic interest and colouristic effects. Rebecca clarkes music is often described along with that of vaughan williams as english impressionism, but her style ranges from lush postromantic as in the passionate viola sonata, her bestknown work to the taut neoclassicism of stravinsky as heard in her prelude, allegro, and pastorale. Set on the trinity college london singing syllabus, grade 6. Rebecca clarke bio, albums, pictures naxos classical music. This outcry is first passed to an understated cello and developed by both the strings. Rebecca clarke composed the sonata for viola and piano, which was first known of in 1919, when the composer was 33 years old. Her life stretched from the late victorian era through the end of the 1970s a period during which the role of women changed unimaginably. She had been supporting herself with some success as a soloist.
Radio broadcast with host virginia eskin and guest liane curtis with sound clips this program was first broadcast on january 9, 2000. Morpheus rebecca clarke oxford university press it is luxuriant in melodic inventions and startlingly beautiful in its instrumental colours. Her gender and victorian upbringing were both determining factors in the life and career of violist rebecca clarke. Morpheus was written in 1917 and premiered in new york in 1918 under the pseudonym. Clarke moved to the united states in 1916, after being disowned by her father.
Britishborn composer and violist rebecca clarke 18861979 is best known for the sonata she composed for her own instrument. I acknowledge the valuable contribution made by johnson in 1977, when he cataloged clarkes works in consultation with her. Article on rebecca clarke from the new grove dictionary of music and. However, as this work was first published before 1925 or failed to meet notice. Clarke was a viola player herself and she writes beautifully for the instrument.
Rebecca clarke composed the sonata for viola and piano, attributed to the year 1919, when the composer was 33 years old. By turns charming, tender, and ironic, these songs make an excellent concert suite and wonderful encores. Please contact us for information about her estate. The piano trio in eflat minor 1921 is one of rebecca clarkes best known works. Despite the increasing number of recordings devoted to clarkes music, this one stakes a very personal case in its allcelloandpiano focus and will be welcomed and admired for its excellence. Rebecca clarke down by the salley gardens for voice and piano in e minor.
Still alive for violin, viola, cello and piano portal. Clarke, rebecca all original works compositions and arrangements of this person are still under in canada, the eu, japan and elsewhere and are thus subject to immediate deletion. Remembered today as one of the finest chamber music composers of the twentieth century, rebecca clarkes 18861979 sonata for viola and piano is a staple in viola repertoire. Rebecca clarke sonata for viola and piano arranged for. The piece shows off the impressionistic musical language clarke had developed, modeled on the music of claude debussy and ralph vaughan williams, that is also apparent in her viola. Morpheus by rebecca clarke 18861979 sheet music for. Clarke, rebecca all original works compositions and arrangements of this person are still under in canada, the eu, japan and elsewhere and. Adagio rebecca clarke, born in harrow to a german mother and american father, studied composition with sir charles villiers stanford and viola with lionel tertis at the royal college of music. Programme notes from lunchtime recital, weds 1st feb. Shorter pieces for viola and piano rebecca clarke viola oxford university press.
Jessica wyatt viola and audrey innes piano rebecca clarke 18861979 sonata for viola and piano i. Rebecca clarke morpheus for viola and piano published by. In november 2009, oxford music publishing gave me permission to transcribe and perform the prelude, allegro, and pastorale by. If you wish to listen to more of clarkes music find here a selection of recordings you can buy and if you wish to play some of her works click on the pictures to see some editions of sheet music some works are suitable for intermediate, advanced players while some others are easier, like the shorter pieces.
Some rebecca clarke masterpieces viola sonata 1919 tied for first prize in the coolidge competition piano trio 1921 won second prize in the coolidge competition prelude, allegro, and pastorale 1941 duo for clarinet and viola several other string chamber works. Rebecca clarke composer buy sheet music and scores. John yorks original composition, dialogue with rebecca clarke 2007, is less interesting, but an homage to clarke employing motifs from her viola sonata. Although her compositional output wasnt large like some of her contemporaries, the works that were composed were. Rebecca clarkes voice three clips from robert shermans 1976 interviews with clarke. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Although her compositional output wasnt large like some of her contemporaries, the works that were composed were praised for their integrity. Programme notes from lunchtime recital, weds 1st feb 2012. The piano trio in eflat minor 1921 is one of rebecca clarke s best known works. The bestknown of her works are the viola sonata 1919 and the trio for piano and. It was written in 1917 when clarke was pursuing a performing career in the united states. The clarke estate is currently managed by christopher johnson, of brooklyn, ny. One of few works by any woman composer to have entered the mainstream repertoire, clarke described the sonata as the one whiff of success that ive had in my life, yet it was greeted with skepticism when published in 1921. Her father, joseph clarke an american living in england, was a cruel domestic tyrant whose abusive behavior was a major influence in his daughters life.
Morpheus is a composition for viola and piano by the english composer and violist rebecca clarke. Written materials rescuing rebecca clarke musical times article 1996 pdf 3. Its three movements are threaded together by the insistent, ha mmered gesture that appears immediately in the piano in the moderato ma appassionato. In november 2009, oxford music publishing gave me permission to transcribe and perform the prelude. Rebecca clarke s music is often described along with that of vaughan williams as english impressionism, but her style ranges from lush postromantic as in the passionate viola sonata, her bestknown work to the taut neoclassicism of stravinsky as heard in her prelude, allegro, and pastorale. London symphony orchestra concerts at the barbican centre in london. It was written in 1917 1 when clarke was pursuing a performing career in the united states. Rebecca clarkes sonata for viola or cello dates from 1919 while she was living in america and was composed for the berkshire, massachusetts music festival. Two pieces for viola or violin and cello rebecca clarke. Rebecca clarke 18861979 morpheus for viola and piano rebecca clarke was born in england and lived much of her adult life in new york.
Chandos records is one of the worlds premier classical music record companies, best known for its ground breaking search for neglected musical gems. Musical activities were encouraged by her american father and german mother, but her fathera strict disciplinarianwithdrew her from the royal academy when she received a marriage proposal from her teacher percy hilder miles. Oct 17, 2015 rebecca clarke composed the sonata for viola and piano, attributed to the year 1919, when the composer was 33 years old. Clarke spent some years in the usa from 1916, touring and performing with her two brothers and english cellist may mukle. Rebecca clarke sonata for viola and piano arranged for cello and piano from hudson soirees plus. Rebecca clarke born harrow, london, 27 august 1886 to usgerman parents died new york city, october 1979 was an extraordinary woman with a tough, unconventional and long life story. Its for a violin, viola lead, cello and piano enjoy. Buy rebecca clarkes music on cds and sheet music to play it. London symphony orchestra friday lunchtime concert. Biography and work for rebecca clarke, listen to classical music and albums or compositions by rebecca clarke online.
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