David Diamond: Chamber Works
Liner Notes   Cat. No. 80508     Release Date: 1996-01-01

Robert McDuffie, violin; William Black, piano; Lucy Shelton, soprano; Louise Schulman, viola; Lawrence Sobol, clarinet; Fred Sherry, Timothy Eddy, cellos

This compendium of five chamber works includes the CD premieres of the Violin Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2 and the Vocalises for soprano and viola. The two violin sonatas are major additions to the Diamond discography.

On the premiere of the Violin Sonata No. 1 in 1948, Virgil Thomson wrote, "“... The musical texture is everywhere high-class... The violin writing is at all times apt, sonorous, and free. It is not without a certain impressiveness, too, for its musical invention and for its sustained expressivity....”" The Violin Sonata No. 2 (1981), in two movements, is more virtuosic in character but tempered, as always, with Diamond's romantically tinged lyricism.

The other major work represented here is the Clarinet Quintet. In the composer's words, “"... The instrumental choice of clarinet, two violas, and two cellos was made to capture a quality of Rembrandtian, Brahmsian, even Regerish autumnal richness of texture and emotions. Many decades of admiration for the Brahms and Reger chamber works surely influenced the glow of my work....”"

The beautiful Vocalises for soprano and viola, and three of the fifty-two Preludes and Fugues for piano complete a rich survey of this American master's chamber music.

Various Artists

David Diamond: Chamber Works

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CD-R+ titles come in a jewel case with print booklet.                         Liner Notes
A *.pdf of the notes may also be accessed here free of charge.

Track Listing

Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano: I.
David Diamond
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Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano: II.
David Diamond
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Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano: III.
David Diamond
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Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano: IV.
David Diamond
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Vocalises for Soprano and Viola
David Diamond
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Quintet for Clarinet, Two Violas and Two Cellos: I.
David Diamond
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Quintet for Clarinet, Two Violas and Two Cellos: II.
David Diamond
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Quintet for Clarinet, Two Violas and Two Cellos: III.
David Diamond
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Quintet for Clarinet, Two Violas and Two Cellos: IV.
David Diamond
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Preludes and Fugues for Piano: Prelude in C major
David Diamond
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Preludes and Fugues for Piano: Fugue in C major
David Diamond
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Preludes and Fugues for Piano: Prelude in E minor
David Diamond
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Preludes and Fugues for Piano: Fugue in E minor
David Diamond
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Preludes and Fugues for Piano: Prelude in C sharp minor
David Diamond
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Preludes and Fugues for Piano: Fugue in C sharp minor
David Diamond
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Sonata No. 2 for Violin and Piano: I.
David Diamond
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Sonata No. 2 for Violin and Piano: II.
David Diamond
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