THE BELFAST MUSIC SOCIETY CH ELEBRITY CONCERTS 1989-90 W AT THE ELMWOOD HALL

1 Brobe for viola. the flat EMMA JOHNSON (clarinet) GORDON BACK (piano) Theme and Variations on a Swedish Air - Bernhardt Crusell (1775-1838) Sonata in Eb op. 120 no.2 Première Rapsodie - Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) al aed10 00 Lagel steld to sonsuzaq Claude Debussy (1862-1918) (030m coɔ samabes) sasils Pièce en forme de Habanera Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) Night Thoughts and Scherzando Con - Richard Rodney Bennett (b 1936) 1915 (Grand Duo Concertant op 48 he hundred that Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826) The Belfast Music Society is most grateful to Koinonia, Pottinger's Entry, Marcus Musical, 113 North Street, and James Morton Pianos, 88 Great Victoria Street for their help in selling tickets for the concerts.

2 Introduction and Variations on a Swedish Air, op 12 Bernhardt Crusell (1775-1838) The Finnish clarinet virtuoso and composer Bernhardt Crusell wrote many fine, but still little-known, works for his instrument, including three concertos and several chamber works. The folksong 'Good lad, your glass do empty' was popular in Sweden at the beginning of the nineteenth century and Crusell, who played in the Royal Opera Orchestra in Stockholm, gave the first performance of his set of variations on the melody, in that city, in 1804. After an introduction, the theme (andante con moto) is heard. There then follow five variations, after which there is a cadenza, a brief return of part of the theme and a brilliant concluding coda. Sonata in E flat, op 120 no.2 allegro amabile Johannes Brahms (1833-97) allegro appassionato andante con moto allegro While Crusell composed his clarinet works to perform himself, many of the best known works in the clarinet repertoire were inspired by the playing of great virtuosi Mozart's by Stadler, Weber's by Baermann and Brahms' by Richard Mühlfeld. When Brahms first met Mühlfeld in 1891, he had decided that he had really said all he wanted to in composition. Such was Mühlfeld's artistry, however, that the composer was inspired to write four masterpieces for him the trio, the quintet, and the two sonatas. All four works breathe that atmosphere of autumnal nostalgia that the clarinet so readily evokes. The clarinet sonatas were also arranged by

3 Brahms for viola. Whereas the first has four (a movements, the E flat has only three, of which the last is, like the finale of the quintet, a set of variations. The sonata opens with one of Brahms' characteristically singing lines of great beauty. Other equally memorable themes are heard and both instruments are fully involved in the discussion of them. The passionate second movement is in simple three-part form, the central section marked sostenuto. The first four of the finale's variations are gentle, after which the tempo accelerates for the two final variations. - INTERVAL - viewers throughout Europe by winn Première Rapsodiem ung Music demically, Fa Claude Debussy (1862-1918) Godall nov also Ina Debussy's 'first' Rhapsody, so titled by the composer, though there was never a second, was written as an examination tes piece for the Paris Conservatoire in 1910. It is one of the most successful and enduring of the hundreds of such pieces that have been composed over the years. In fact Debussy was so pleased with it 'One of the most pleasing pieces I have ever written' that he subsequently orchestrated it. There is a single scherzando movement, with a slow introduction. The Reddel Pièce en forme de Habanera Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) Ravel's Habanera was originally composed as a Vocalise étude for wordless voice and piano in 1907. It is one of a number of Spanish-inspired pieces by Ravel, including the well-known (but unrelated) Habanera in the Rapsodie Espagnole. This short piece, like Rachmaninov's Vocalise (1912), has become better known in instrumental arrangements.

4 Night Thoughts, Scherzando Richard Rodney Bennett (b 1936) Bennett is one of the most versatile of twentieth century British composers, having written a number of pieces for young people and many important film scores, as well as composing and performing jazz and blues, and being an important and prolific composer of operas, symphonies, concertos and chamber works. The clarinet has not so far, in fact, featured that frequently in his catalogue of works, the two principal pieces being Scena III (1977) and the Sonatina (1981), of which these are two of the brief movements. Grand Duo Concertant op 48 Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826) allegro con fuoco andante con moto rondo (allegro) foue lo After composing his clarinet quintet for Baermann in 1815, Weber wrote the Grand Duo, by far the most important of his works for solo instrument and piano. Although he at first thought of calling it a Sonata, it isn't one; it is, rather, a full-scale concert piece for two equal virtuosi - presumably Baermann and the composer. Weber skilfully devised themes that are perfectly written for each instrument, but which assume their full character only when combined. This is clearly seen in the slow movement, where the clarinet and piano themes, at first in conflict, are gradually reconciled and united. The 6/8 finale presents one of Weber's most instantly memorable themes. Alec Macdonald 1990

5 ,000 a b TONIGHT'S SOLOIST EMMA JOHNSON 302 Emma Johnson has become one of the best known musical names of the 1980's. Her appearances on radio, television and in person throughout the UK and Europe continue to delight audiences. Still only in her 20's, Emma already has a string of awards and recordings behind her. She first sprang to fame by winning BBC TV's Young Musician of the Year and went on to excite millions of viewers throughout Europe by winning the bronze award in the European Young Musician competition. Academically, Emma is a graduate of Cambridge University. Emma's chamber music career has included appearances with Arleen Auger at the Hohenems Schubertiade in Austria, the Prague String Quartet in London's Wigmore Hall and the Takacs String Quartet on a Mediterranean cruise. As soloist Emma regularly plays with the Royal Philharmonic, English Chamber and London Symphony Orchestras as well as the London Mozart Players. Further afield, recent travels have included concerts in Monte Carlo with Sir Yehudi Menuhin, visits to Finland, The Netherlands, Austria and France. In addition she has appeared in Vienna's Konzerthaus with the Frauenkammer-orchester and with the Polish Chamber Orchestra under Jerzy Maksymiuk. Her USA debut at the 1989 Newport Festival led to an immediate re-invitation in 1990. On disc Emma has made a number of highly acclaimed recordings for ASV including the Mozart Clarinet Concerto (with Raymond Leppard and the ECO) and most recently Weber Concerto No. 2 and Crusell

6 Concerto No.3 with Gerard Schwarz and the ECO. She has also made a recording of french music with Gordon Back 'La Clarinette Francaise'. - The coming months see a typically busy schedule for - Emma her Japanese debut, visits to France and Ireland, numerous recitals and concerto appearances in London and the rest of the UK and of course further recordings. NEXT CONCERT BARBICAN PIANO TRIO Saturday 3 February 1990. 7.30 pm Elmwood Hall sty

The BMS has been presenting concerts of first-rate chamber music, including masterpieces which are landmarks in European culture, for almost 70 years. Some of the world-famous artists who have played and sung for us have included the Amadeus Quartet, Elly Ameling, Claudio Arrau, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Janet Baker, Pierre Bernac and Francis Poulenc, Alfred Brendel, Kathleen Ferrier, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, John Lill, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Gerard Souzay and Rosalyn Tureck. Copies of BMS brochures available from the Secretary, Janet Quigg, 48, Bawnmore Road, Belfast, BT9 6LB, tel. 660115. LISSURN ROAD 1000 DONEGALL PASS CITY HOSPITAL ELMWOOD HALL CAMDEN ELMWOOD AVENUE COLLEGE GARDENS METHODIST COLLEGET WELLESLEY AVEN814 MOUNT CHARLES UNIVERSITY STREET UNIVERSITY SQUARE QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY BOTANIC GARDENS