The clarinet is uniquely capable among wind instruments of producing a tone that can swell, contract, and die away, allowing it to reproduce distant sounds, echoes, and the magic of twilight.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Arthur Schopenhauer, a German philosopher, famously exclaimed, "Give me the music of Rossini – it speaks without words!" highlighting the expressive power of music beyond text.
Compositional Technique
Composers generally welcomed the practice of arranging their works, as the number of arrangements served as a clear measure of their popularity.
Historical Context
In the 19th century, the rise of the ambitious bourgeoisie led to a demand for sheet music of popular operatic 'hits' in various arrangements, as a way to disseminate musical novelties before radio or television.
Performer Biography
Martin Fröst has expanded traditional concert forms by collaborating creatively with dancers, mime artists, choreographers, and directors, inspiring contemporary composers.
Performer Biography
Martin Fröst, the clarinet virtuoso on this album, won first prize at the Nordic Soloist Biennale in 1991 as the youngest instrumentalist ever.
Performer Biography
Lan Shui, the conductor, began studying the violin at age five in China and made his professional conducting debut in 1985 with the Central Philharmonic Orchestra in Beijing.
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