Samuel Coleridge-Taylor consciously processed his African heritage, as shown in works like his African Suite op. 35 and 24 Negro Melodies op. 59.
Composer Biography
Paul Ben-Haim, born Paul Frankenburger, emigrated from Germany to Palestine in 1933 due to rising antisemitism and adopted his new name, meaning 'son of Heinrich'.
Performer Biography
Klaus Hampl, the clarinetist on this album, is a recipient of multiple culture awards, including the Gabler-Kulturpreis and the Sudetendeutschen Kulturpreis.
Composer Biography
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, an English composer with African roots, died at the young age of 37 from a lung infection.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Paul Ben-Haim's compositions in Palestine were influenced by Arabian, Oriental, and Eastern-Jewish folk music, and he aimed to contribute to an independent Jewish or Hebrew music culture.
Compositional Technique
Paul Ben-Haim's Clarinet Quintet op. 31a exemplifies his blend of Western and Oriental music, combining Western compositional procedures like theme and variations with Eastern modal influences.
Composition History
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's Clarinet Quintet was presented by his teacher Charles V. Stanford to the great violinist Joseph Joachim, who then performed it in Berlin in 1897.
