Harry Sparnaay - 1982 - Bass Clarinet Identity II

Harry Sparnaay
1982 
Bass Clarinet Identity II


01. –Enrique Raxach-Soirée Musicale 30:50
02. –Tristan Keuris-Concertino 10:00
03. –Joep Straesser-Fusion À Six 8:20


Pressed By – PRS Baarn – 6814 672


Composed By – Enrique Raxach (tracks: A), Joep Straesser (tracks: B2), Tristan Keuris (tracks: B1)
Design – Floris Guntenaar
Liner Notes – E.R.*, J.S.*, T.K.*
Liner Notes [Translation] – Sonja Jokel
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Rights Society: STEMRA
Matrix / Runout (Runout stamp side A): 6814 672 1Y 1 670 111 04
Matrix / Runout (Runout stamp side B): 6814 672 2Y 1 670 112 04

After the first Bass Clarinet Identity I posted a while ago, we finally get to hear the second one by Dutch Bass Clarinet virtuoso Harry Sparnaay. The same circle of composers and musicians are on here creating three pieces in which the Bass Clarinet (obviously) plays the main role.

On this particular record the electronic pieces are no longer present, but are replaced by choirs and more acoustic contemporary classical composed ones. Therefore this record might be the closest to classical music on this blog. Fortunately this does not mean that the music is dull. The A-side consists of a 30 minute piece called Soirée Musicale composed by Spanish composer Enrique Raxach and invokes unexpected sound-bursts of entangled string and wind-instruments in a landscape of haunted spheres. The other pieces by Dutch composers are more minimalistic in which Sparnaay's Bass Clarinet gets more freedom to explore its possibilities. The whole is actually a bit more conventional musically, but still creates something eerie and unexpected. It's a nice continuation of the Harry Sparnaay universe on this blog.