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Paolo De Gaspari
Donatoni Siegel Ceccarelli Tenan
The essential Bass Clarinet
Paolo De Gaspari
Donatoni Siegel Ceccarelli Tenan
The essential Bass Clarinet
The album
The essential Bass Clarinet
In this project I wanted to describe the evolution of the bass clarinet repertoire over the past 25 years. A radical change that has seen as protagonists both composers and performers, in developing a new way to fully represent the potential of this wonderful instrument. The choice of the pieces is intended to be an
example of this transformation, it begins with works for solo instrument, followed by the use of tape, and finally the computer. Each work has also particular technical difficulties and its own language to be decoded in order to understand the full musical meaning. Finally, the CD wishes to mark my personal
journey which begins in 1989, when Donatoni wrote Soft. Years of travel, concerts, meetings with composers, master classes, and 25 years with my instrument on my back! Enjoy. The project starts with Soft by Donatoni (1989), an incredibly complex work in two big movements that highlight and bring to the
limit all the technical and expressive character istics of the instrument, certainly a milestone in the repertoire for bass clarinet. Press Release by Lang (1991), inspired by jazz, funky and new age, a work full of changes and “different worlds” that coexist harmoniously. Jackdaw by Siegel (1995-2000) for bass clarinet and tape, a real duo, where the tape and the instrumental line mingles, intertwines and interacts in a very exciting rhythmic game, creating a perfect dialogue full of energy. Birds by Ceccarelli (2009) for bass clarinet
and computer, a blend of contemporary and funky music, mixed with natural sounds making this a unique piece of its kind. The instrumental exploration is intriguing and requires a very solid and extended technique (circular breathing, double staccato, slaps, very hight notes).
Biglieobilie by Tenan (2014) for bass clarinet and computer is a work written and dedicated to me. Three movements, a very clear musical idea that is constantly being “disturbed” by sounds and noises that belong to the everyday world. An exceptional ability to mix sound pulses, combined with an academic musical form, make this work great fun and full ofsurprises.
The artist
Paolo De Gaspari
Paolo De Gaspari got a bass clarinet master degree at Rotterdam Conservatorium with Henri Bok. He did master classes and concerts for most important Institutions as: University of Bangor 2000 (Wales), Colchester Institute 2000 (Uk), British Clarinet Choir Convention 2001 (Wales), International Summer
Festival on Clarinet Budapest 2001, International Conference on Clarinet and Sax Helsinki 2001, 9° International Clarinet Summer Course and Festival Rasckeve 2002 and 2003 (Hungary), Corsi estivi Eurydice Levico 2002 and 2003, Basterclass Hoogezand 2003 (Holland), N.E.R.V. Clarinet Convention Utrecht
Conservatorium 2004 (Holland), Conservatorio Teresa Berganza and Joaquin Turina di Madrid 2004 (Spain), Scuola di Musica di Capodistria 2004 (Slovenie), Meeting of European Clarinet Ensemble Ljubliana 2004 (Slovenie), Birmingham Conservatorium 2004 (UK), Royal College of Music London 2004(UK), SaxClarDag Drammen 2004 and 2005 (Norway), World Bass Clarinet Convention Rotterdam 2005, Clarinet Meeting Hoogezand 2006 (Holland), Vicenza Conservatorium 2007‐08, International Clarinet meeting Gent 2008 (Belgium), Udine Conservatorium 2009, SWIK Clarinet Festival Hoogezand (Holland) 2009 and 2010, FEEL clarinet festival, Heerlen 2010 (Holland), Rovigo Conservatorium, 2011, Royal Northen College of Music Manchester 2012, (UK), Brescia Conservatorium 2012 and 2013, Milano Conservatorium 2013, Merida Projecto Musica 2014 (Mexico), Royal Northen College of Music Manchester
2015 (UK), Groningen Conservatorium 2015 (Holland), 2° Congreso de Claronistas Maceiò 2015 (Brasil), UniRio, University of Rio de Janeiro 2015 (Brasil), Utrecht Conservatorium 2015 (Holland). He played also at following ICA Festival: Clarinet fest Assisi Italy 2013, Clarinet Fest Bathon Rouge USA 2014, Clarinet Fest Madrid Spain 2015. Since 2003 he’s professor at International Bass Clarinet Academy of Pordenone Italy and from 2007 visiting professor at Birmingham
Conservatorium in UK.