Clarence Barlow (1945-2023) was a British composer of classical and electroacoustic works. He was an academic teacher internationally, at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague and at the University of California, among others. He taught at the Darmstädter Ferienkurse from 1982 to 1994. Barlow became known as a pioneer of electronic and computer music. Still, his works were mostly written for traditional instruments, including elements from other cultures. Barlow preferred traditional timbres to synthesized ones because “they sound so much more alive and exciting”. He frequently used computers to generate the structures of his works.

Contents

This double CD album gives an exciting insight into the work of the composer: on one disc, works written for an ensemble between eleven musicians and a full orchestra, on the other for a maximum of nine performers or for soloist.

CD 1 offers a repertoire of older recordings: Im Januar am Nil, written for a chamber ensemble (recorded in 1988 by Ensemble Köln), Orchideæ Ordinariæ (recorded by the Südwestfunk-Orchester Baden-Baden under the direction of Ingo Metzmacher with the soloist Kristi Becker in 1989) and Piano Concerto No.2 (recorded in 2002 by the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra Reykjavik conducted by Hermann Bäumer with the soloist Deborah Richards).

CD 2 features nine pieces for chamber ensemble or for soloists, recorded in 2016 by members of the Ensemble Modelo62. The works were created between 1966 and 2015 and show the broad spectrum as well as the musical development of Clarence Barlow. This CD opens with the twelve-tone and well-structured work Trio for Violin, Mandolin and Piano (1966), which was never performed for fifty years. In addition, two versions of … until … can be heard. In addition, there is Pinball Play for clarinet and three playback tracks (2010), as well as five other works for flute, clarinet, violin and cello, occasionally expanded by a selection of trumpet, marimba, piano, guitar and double bass: Relationships – Version 1 (1974), Sachets de ciseaux insatiables (2002), Septima de facto (2006), vinte e cinco anéis (2010) and For Simon Jonasohn-Stein (2012).

Performers

CD1
Ensemble Köln under the direction of Robert HP Platz
Icelandic Symphony Orchestra Reykjavik under the direction of Hermann Bäumer
with soloist Deborah Richards
Southwest Radio Orchestra Baden-Baden under the direction of Ingo Metzmacher
with soloist Kristi Becker

CD2
Ensemble Modelo62 under the direction of Ezequiel Menalled