Stock, Karlins, Blank & Jenni: Chamber Works
Liner Notes   Cat. No. NWCRL329     Release Date: 2010-11-15
Allen Blustine, clarinet; Jeanne Benjamin, violin; Thomas Kornacker, violin; Jacob Glick, viola; Christopher Finckel, cello; Joel Krosnick, amplified cello; Elizabeth Buccheri, piano; Thomas Siwe, percussion; Gilbert Kalish, piano; Betty Bang Mather, flute; John Simms, piano

David Stock's Quintet For Clarinet And Strings was begun in the fall of 1965, and completed in December, 1966. The work is in three movements: Variations, Cadenzas, Epilogue, played without pause. Each movement utilizes the same basic materials, but with different approaches to rhythm and register. The demands on the performers are extraordinary, as instrumental virtuosity is one of the primary determinants of the shape and textures of the piece.

About his music. M. William Karlins writes:

"I composed Variations On Obiter Dictum early in 1965 for my good friend Joel Krosnick. It is the first of three pieces I composed for him...

"The piece is divided into a statement and six variations. The statement is the first 17 measures of my solo organ piece, Obiter Dictum, rearranged for piano and percussion. The first variation begins with the first entrance of the cello, while the fifth variation is the cadenza which is in two parts separated by a rest. The sixth variation acts as a kind of epilogue not only to the piece but especially to the cadenza."

Allan Blank writes:

"Rotation: A Study For Piano (1959-1960) was premiered in 1961 by Julia Morgan at the Southeastern Composers' Conference, University of Alabama, where I was teaching at the time. The title of the work was chosen because it summarized, in retrospect, the following concerns: 1) the use of two interlocking minor thirds as the primary sonority and generator, 2) rhythms based on triplet formations of various sizes together with shifting binary and ternary divisions of phrase units, 3) a large retrograde binary design (ABBA) and 4) a complementary expressive character: the 'B' sections being lyrical and quiet (in two different ways) and the 'A' sections angular and assertive.

Donald Martin Jenni writes:

"Creating a heterophonic, mutually responsive relationship between the flute and piano was of particular compositional interest in the making of Musique Printaniere ('printaniere' means both 'primeval' and 'having to do with springtime'). During the first half of this short, lyrical piece, the piano tessitura is limited to approximately the range of the flute. Only later do the two instruments explore extreme and opposite registers."


This title, originally issued on the CRI label, is now available as a burn-on-demand CD (CD-R) or download in MP3/320, FLAC or WAV formats. CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print booklet or jewel case included. Full liner notes are accessible via the link above.

Various Artists

Stock, Karlins, Blank & Jenni: Chamber Works

MP3/320 $7.99
FLAC $7.99
WAV $7.99
CD-R $7.99
CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print material or jewel case included.
A *.pdf of the notes may be accessed here free of charge.
   Liner Notes



Track Listing

Quintet for Clarinet and Strings: I. -
David Stock
Buy
Quintet for Clarinet and Strings: II. -
David Stock
Buy
Quintet for Clarinet and Strings: III. -
David Stock
Buy
Variations on "Obiter Dictum": Theme
Martin William Karlins
Buy
Variations on "Obiter Dictum": Var. I
Martin William Karlins
Buy
Variations on "Obiter Dictum": Var. II
Martin William Karlins
Buy
Variations on "Obiter Dictum": Var. III
Martin William Karlins
Buy
Variations on "Obiter Dictum": Var. IV
Martin William Karlins
Buy
Variations on "Obiter Dictum": Var. V
Martin William Karlins
Buy
Variations on "Obiter Dictum": Var. VI
Martin William Karlins
Buy
A Study for Piano "Rotation"
Allan Blank
Buy
Musique Printaniere
Donald Martin Jenni
Buy