French Woodwind Chamber Works, Vol 1

Record and Artist Details

Composer or Director: Claude Debussy, Camille Saint-Saëns

Label: Cala

Media Format: Cassette

Media Runtime: 0

Mastering:

DDD

Catalogue Number: CAMC1017

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
Rapsodie Claude Debussy, Composer
Claude Debussy, Composer
Julius Drake, Piano
Nicholas Daniel, Cor anglais
Syrinx Claude Debussy, Composer
Claude Debussy, Composer
William Bennett, Flute
Première rapsodie Claude Debussy, Composer
Claude Debussy, Composer
James Campbell, Clarinet
John York, Piano
Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp Claude Debussy, Composer
Claude Debussy, Composer
Ieuan Jones, Harp
Roger Tapping, Viola
William Bennett, Flute
(Le) Petit nègre Claude Debussy, Composer
Claude Debussy, Composer
James Campbell, Clarinet
Nicholas Daniel, Oboe
Rachel Gough, Bassoon
Richard Watkins, Horn
William Bennett, Flute
Petite pièce Claude Debussy, Composer
Claude Debussy, Composer
James Campbell, Clarinet
John York, Piano
Odelette Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Clifford Benson, Piano
William Bennett, Flute
Sonata for Clarinet and Piano Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
James Campbell, Clarinet
John York, Piano
Feuillet d'album Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
David Campbell, Clarinet
James Campbell, Clarinet
Nicholas Daniel, Oboe
Rachel Gough, Bassoon
Richard Watkins, Horn
Robert Maskell, Horn
Robin Kennard, Bassoon
William Bennett, Flute
Sonata for Bassoon and Piano Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Julius Drake, Piano
Rachel Gough, Bassoon
Caprice sur des airs danois et russes Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
James Campbell, Clarinet
Julius Drake, Piano
Nicholas Daniel, Oboe
William Bennett, Flute
Sonata for Oboe and Piano Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Julius Drake, Piano
Nicholas Daniel, Oboe
Romance Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Clifford Benson, Piano
William Bennett, Flute
Tarantelle Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Clifford Benson, Piano
James Campbell, Clarinet
William Bennett, Flute

Composer or Director: Maurice Ravel, Francis Poulenc

Genre:

Chamber

Label: Cala

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 136

Mastering:

Stereo
DDD

Catalogue Number: CACD1018

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
Introduction and Allegro for flute, clarinet, harp Maurice Ravel, Composer
Allegri Qt
Ieuan Jones, Harp
James Campbell, Clarinet
Maurice Ravel, Composer
William Bennett, Flute
Pièce en forme de habanera Maurice Ravel, Composer
James Campbell, Clarinet
John York, Piano
Maurice Ravel, Composer
Sonata for Oboe and Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Julius Drake, Piano
Nicholas Daniel, Oboe
(L') Invitation au château Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Jacky Guter, Soprano
James Campbell, Clarinet
Joanna Elias, Contralto (Female alto)
John York, Piano
Peter Carter, Violin
Villanelle Francis Poulenc, Composer
Clifford Benson, Piano
Francis Poulenc, Composer
William Bennett, Flute
Sonata for Two Clarinets Francis Poulenc, Composer
David Campbell, Clarinet
Francis Poulenc, Composer
James Campbell, Clarinet
Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Julius Drake, Piano
Nicholas Daniel, Oboe
Rachel Gough, Bassoon
Sextet for Piano and Wind Quintet Francis Poulenc, Composer
Clifford Benson, Piano
Francis Poulenc, Composer
James Campbell, Clarinet
Nicholas Daniel, Oboe
Rachel Gough, Bassoon
Richard Watkins, Horn
William Bennett, Flute
Sonata for Clarinet and Bassoon Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer
James Campbell, Clarinet
Rachel Gough, Bassoon
Rapsodie nègre Francis Poulenc, Composer
Allegri Qt
Francis Poulenc, Composer
James Campbell, Clarinet
Julius Drake, Piano
Peter Sidhom, Baritone
William Bennett, Flute
Sonata for Clarinet and Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer
James Campbell, Clarinet
John York, Piano
Mouvements perpétuels Francis Poulenc, Composer
Bruno Schrecker, Cello
Chris West, Double bass
Francis Poulenc, Composer
James Campbell, Clarinet
Nicholas Daniel, Oboe
Peter Carter, Violin
Rachel Gough, Bassoon
Richard Watkins, Horn
Roger Tapping, Viola
William Bennett, Flute
Sonata for Flute and Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer
Clifford Benson, Piano
Francis Poulenc, Composer
William Bennett, Flute

Composer or Director: Maurice Ravel, Francis Poulenc

Label: Cala

Media Format: Cassette

Media Runtime: 0

Mastering:

Stereo
DDD

Catalogue Number: CAMC1018

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
Introduction and Allegro for flute, clarinet, harp Maurice Ravel, Composer
Allegri Qt
Ieuan Jones, Harp
James Campbell, Clarinet
Maurice Ravel, Composer
William Bennett, Flute
Pièce en forme de habanera Maurice Ravel, Composer
James Campbell, Clarinet
John York, Piano
Maurice Ravel, Composer
Sonata for Oboe and Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Julius Drake, Piano
Nicholas Daniel, Oboe
(L') Invitation au château Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Jacky Guter, Soprano
James Campbell, Clarinet
Joanna Elias, Contralto (Female alto)
John York, Piano
Peter Carter, Violin
Villanelle Francis Poulenc, Composer
Clifford Benson, Piano
Francis Poulenc, Composer
William Bennett, Flute
Sonata for Two Clarinets Francis Poulenc, Composer
David Campbell, Clarinet
Francis Poulenc, Composer
James Campbell, Clarinet
Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Julius Drake, Piano
Nicholas Daniel, Oboe
Rachel Gough, Bassoon
Sextet for Piano and Wind Quintet Francis Poulenc, Composer
Clifford Benson, Piano
Francis Poulenc, Composer
James Campbell, Clarinet
Nicholas Daniel, Oboe
Rachel Gough, Bassoon
Richard Watkins, Horn
William Bennett, Flute
Sonata for Clarinet and Bassoon Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer
James Campbell, Clarinet
Rachel Gough, Bassoon
Rapsodie nègre Francis Poulenc, Composer
Allegri Qt
Francis Poulenc, Composer
James Campbell, Clarinet
Julius Drake, Piano
Peter Sidhom, Baritone
William Bennett, Flute
Sonata for Clarinet and Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer
James Campbell, Clarinet
John York, Piano
Mouvements perpétuels Francis Poulenc, Composer
Bruno Schrecker, Cello
Chris West, Double bass
Francis Poulenc, Composer
James Campbell, Clarinet
Nicholas Daniel, Oboe
Peter Carter, Violin
Rachel Gough, Bassoon
Richard Watkins, Horn
Roger Tapping, Viola
William Bennett, Flute
Sonata for Flute and Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer
Clifford Benson, Piano
Francis Poulenc, Composer
William Bennett, Flute

Composer or Director: Claude Debussy, Camille Saint-Saëns

Label: Cala

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 129

Mastering:

DDD

Catalogue Number: CACD1017

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
Rapsodie Claude Debussy, Composer
Claude Debussy, Composer
Julius Drake, Piano
Nicholas Daniel, Cor anglais
Syrinx Claude Debussy, Composer
Claude Debussy, Composer
William Bennett, Flute
Première rapsodie Claude Debussy, Composer
Claude Debussy, Composer
James Campbell, Clarinet
John York, Piano
Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp Claude Debussy, Composer
Claude Debussy, Composer
Ieuan Jones, Harp
Roger Tapping, Viola
William Bennett, Flute
(Le) Petit nègre Claude Debussy, Composer
Claude Debussy, Composer
James Campbell, Clarinet
Nicholas Daniel, Oboe
Rachel Gough, Bassoon
Richard Watkins, Horn
William Bennett, Flute
Petite pièce Claude Debussy, Composer
Claude Debussy, Composer
James Campbell, Clarinet
John York, Piano
Odelette Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Clifford Benson, Piano
William Bennett, Flute
Sonata for Clarinet and Piano Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
James Campbell, Clarinet
John York, Piano
Feuillet d'album Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
David Campbell, Clarinet
James Campbell, Clarinet
Nicholas Daniel, Oboe
Rachel Gough, Bassoon
Richard Watkins, Horn
Robert Maskell, Horn
Robin Kennard, Bassoon
William Bennett, Flute
Sonata for Bassoon and Piano Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Julius Drake, Piano
Rachel Gough, Bassoon
Caprice sur des airs danois et russes Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
James Campbell, Clarinet
Julius Drake, Piano
Nicholas Daniel, Oboe
William Bennett, Flute
Sonata for Oboe and Piano Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Julius Drake, Piano
Nicholas Daniel, Oboe
Romance Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Clifford Benson, Piano
William Bennett, Flute
Tarantelle Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Clifford Benson, Piano
James Campbell, Clarinet
William Bennett, Flute
The solo and chamber woodwind repertory owes much to French composers. Indeed, it is hard to think of the flute without recalling Debussy and a whole series of works from the Prelude a l'apres midi d'un faune to the wonderful late Sonata with viola and harp that features on the first of these four discs. But the real curiosity here is his Rapsodie, better known as for alto saxophone and piano (or using Roger-Ducasse's realization of the composer's orchestral sketch), but evidently also authorized by Debussy as for cor anglais. John Harle and Nicholas Daniel have both had a hand in this edition, in a way that I lack space to explain (Daniel's booklet-note takes a page), but his performance perhaps justifies his claim that this 12-minute piece is ''the instrument's masterpiece'', and certainly the cor anglais is disgracefully short of repertory. The original title was Rapsodie mauresque, and the music offers enough reminders of ''Iberia'' in Images to seem a companion to that masterwork, completed in the same year, 1908. However, one misses an orchestra and Julius Drake's piano is placed too far back, I prefer the other performance offered here, with Simon Haram on saxophone and John York on piano, which is more vivid and over a minute shorter.
The recording varies in quality from fair to good. Thus Syrinx lacks tonal mystery and William Bennett's brisk treatment does not help. The Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp also needs more sense of wonder, and although the performance is skilful, it will not satisfy those who have heard better—for example the celebrated Melos ensemble account, recorded in the 1960s yet undimmed in its beauty. But the clarinet Rapsodie, with James Campbell and John York, offers some magic.
On the second disc, the Saint-Saens performances are thoroughly professional. I particularly like the stylish accounts of the three sonatas, the one for clarinet having a surprisingly dark slow movement and the Bassoon Sonata cleverly avoiding comic cliche. The wit of the Oboe Sonata's finale and the delightfully Rossinian Tarantelle provides a link to Poulenc, and his music, too, is well served on the nearly two discs devoted to him. His sadness, too, is conveyed in these performances of the sonatas for clarinet, flute and oboes, and in the first of them I must praise James Campbell's initial note in the poignant Romanza, crescendoing from absolutely nothing. The fragmentary incidental music to Anouilh's L'invitation au chateau is welcome, and the composer's chamber version of the Mouvements perpetuels delicious.
Finally, Ravel. The Introduction and Allegro comes over well, if without the magic that Osian Ellis and the Melos give us in their performance. No matter: this mid-price compilation is valuable, and the music by Poulenc and Saint-Saens would alone justify its purchase price.'

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