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Morpheus - Clarke

 

 

BWO-023 - Morpheus


Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979)

orchestrated Roger Harvey

 

Orchestration: Fl. Ob. Cl. Bsn; Hn Strings

 

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Duration 6'30"

Notes:

Rebecca Clarke (1886 - 1979) Morpheus is one of the finest pieces written for the viola by one of that instrument's greatest exponents, the self-styled "viola player and composer" Rebecca Clarke (b Harropw, England, 1886; d. New York City, 1979). Clarke played violin until her composition teacher, Sir Charles Stanford, urged her to shift over to the viola because then she would be "right in the middle of the sound, and can tell hoiw it's all done". The viola became the basis of Clarke's world-wide career as a soloist and as partner in chamber music with many of the greatest artist of the early twentieth century, including Schnabel,, Casals, Thibaud, Rubinstein, Grainger, Hess. and Szell. Clarke's compositional output was brilliant out of all proportion to its bulk (about 90 works, includinfg juvenelia). Her Viola Sonata and Piano Trio are often played and recorded and are now generally regarded as masterpieces. Her mature songs perhaps her ?nest body of work, running the gamut from Blakean simplicity to brutal tragedy to outright farce - are also widely performed and recorded. Her Choral and vocal-ensemble music were virtually unknown until publication of her Ave Maria and Chorus from Shelly's 'Hellas" but several of her shorter instrumental chamber pieces, especially Morpheus and the Prelude, Allegro and Pastorale have been performed, recorded and broadcast worldwide.