SKU: HH.HH452-SSC

ISBN 9790708146599.

Three Imaginary Folksongs was requested by the Concerts Society of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral for their concert season celebrating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Cathedral. The composer was asked specifically for a work which would highlight the much-admired talents of the principal clarinet, Jacqueline Thomas. The title is unambiguous. Taking three different approaches, each of which has a modal starting point, the three ‘folksongs’ from imaginary places, were developed in styles which reflect the work of earlier folksong-inspired composers. The first performance took place at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral at a concert that not only celebrated the Cathedral’s 50th birthday, but also Stephen’s 70th.

SKU: FG.55009-633-2

ISBN 979-0-55009-633-2.

The concerto has five movements played without pause. The beginning Tempestoso is dramatic and powerful, but there is also a beautiful, slow middle section. The second movement consists of a virtuosic solo cadenza, which is dominated by mysterious tremolos on the clarinet.The cadenza leads to Vivace, con brio, which is the central climax of the concerto and the most virtuosic movement both for the orchestra and the soloist. Then follows the slow, melancholic and lyrical fourth movement Adagio, mesto. The Epilogue is slow, too; the atmosphere of the last movement is unreal, mysterious. The solo part at the end consists largely of broken, multiphonic clarinet sounds before the concerto fades out into a silence.