Moods for Solo Clarinet was written in 1980 for Roger Heaton.
There are five moods portrayed, namely
1. Isolation 2. Jovialities 3. Anger 4. Loneliness 5. Desolation.
The work uses a number of contemporary clarinet techniques, multiphonics,
quarter tones, tight, lip close and wide vibrato, glissande, high
tremolando, breath tones and growls. These techniques are used as an
essential part of the piece woven into the
very fabric of the musical argument and emotional structure of
each Mood.
In 1980 the composer was involved in setting to music some of the poetry of Ted Hughes, and became fascinated by the bleak landscape of the "Crow" anthology. This landscape is certainly reflected in the sound world of Moods which can be appreciated on two "Hughestheian" type levels; one is that of a solitary bird lost in a foreign environment. The sense of isolation and fear portrayed as the birds calls become more and more frantic, while it searches for a point of contact with its own kind. The second level is the equivalent of a human schizophrenic, whose feelings and emotions eventually turn inwards towards self-distruction.
Available here
 |
Contemporary
British Clarinet Music by Roger
Heaton (clarinet) & Stephen Pruslin (piano)
ASC Classical Series from NWCA (North West Composers' Association). Recorded in 1997 this disc features works by David Forshaw, Jeremy Pike, John Reeman, Kevin Malone, Geoffrey Kimpton, David Golightly and Stephen Plews |
of Recording
of the work
The most substantial and ambitious piece in this collection is undoubtedly David Golightly's Moods (1980) for solo clarinet, written for Roger Heaton who plays this rather difficult and technically demanding piece with consummate ease and assured technique. Golightly relies on a number of modern techniques, such as quarter tones, multiphonics, glissandi, breath tones and the like without ever giving the impression of mere experiment. Quite the contrary, each mood is vividly depicted with imagination and poetical insight. Obviously, to my ears at least, this is a major addition to the repertoire. Hubert Culot, The British Music Society
