Piet Swerts Chamber Music
Roeland Hendrikx, clarinet/Tempera String Quartet* Phaedra 92045 - In Flanders' Fields Vol. 45 The accessible Clarinet Quintet by Piet Swerts (b.1960) has a darkish mood pervading the first movement; thoughtful, moving, but never too hard. Next a gentle Nocturne, followed by the fairly brief scherzo. Starting off like a Strauss waltz, this movement is a zanyish piece in a lilting 3/4time with much discourse between the instruments; full of fun and clever dialogue. The slow fourth movement harks back to music's grand master with a rather solemn cello pizzicato sounding akin to Bach's Air on a G String . The Finale:Rondo has an awkward gait, and occasional lyrical episodes. The playing throughout is beautiful, with perfect balance between clarinet and strings. It is a return to dark times with dissonant stabbings at the opening of the Second String Quartet. This is followed by a Scherzo which has plenty of bite as well as a very ‘jolly' tune as its first subject. The slower Trio causes the thoughts to turn introspectively once more as melodic phrases sing over long chords. The reprise of the scherzo material with its awkward skitterings does not register total happy freedom. This music reminds one of the quartets of Shostakovich, but Swerts has his own voice. Dennis Day
See also http://www.musicalpointers.co.uk/reviews/cddvd/Vic_Nees.htm
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