Composer(s): Welcher, Dan
Conductor(s): Johanos, Donald
Label: Naxos
Series: American Classics
Genre: Concerto; Orchestral
Period: 20th Century
Catalogue No: 8.559287
Barcode: 636943928721
Release Date: 12/2005

WELCHER: Haleakala / Prairie Light / Clarinet Concerto

Composer-conductor Dan Welcher, whose works range in scale from piano solo to opera, is one of the most-performed American composers of his generation. In 1990, he was named Composer in Residence with the Honolulu Symphony, for whom he wrote the tone poem Haleakala: How Maui Snared the Sun. Using ancient Hawaiian chant-tunes, authentic percussion instruments and Polynesian scales, the work is designed to appeal on many levels. The Clarinet Concerto might be described as a ‘jazz concerto’, but for the fact that it incorporates styles of performance from throughout the clarinet’s history. The Blues and Toccata second movement, inspired by the name ‘Benny Goodman’ breaks into to ‘a rather polite rock-’n’-roll episode’, before being pared down to a jazz quartet.

Tracklist

Welcher, Dan
1Heleakala - How Maui Snared the Sun22:32
2I. Light Coming On The Plains04:44
3II. Canyon with Crows04:55
4III. Starlight Night04:42
5I. Very Fast - Slowly - Dancing09:39
6II. Blues and Toccata (on the name Benny Goodman)10:33

Total Playing Time: 57:05