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ABRSM Grade 6 List B : Luminare, Hunter’s Close (No. 2 )
Rob Hall studied music on the joint course at Manchester University and the Royal Northern College of Music, prioritising composition and clarinet, and later, saxophone. In his first term he won a composition competition judged by Sir James MacMillan. Gaining further awards including the Proctor Gregg Performance Award and the Terence Greaves Award for Big Band Writing, he then won a scholarship to Berklee College of Music USA, primarily to study jazz.
He has built a diverse catalogue with many commissions, writing for choirs, chamber and jazz orchestras solo works, small groups, and multi-media work. His music has been performed in such venues as the Royal Festival Hall and Barbican in London, the Martin Harris Centre and RNCM Concert Hall in Manchester, and the Royal Concert Hall and University Concert Hall in Glasgow, and in settings such as Edinburgh Jazz Festival and Glastonbury Festival.
Following his first publication, a commission from ABRSM, he has since had music published by BrassWind, Trinity College, Forton Music and Clifton Edition (who have republished his piano volumes formerly with Spartan Press).
As a leader and co-leader he has released nine albums of original and improvised music for the British contemporary music label FMR, also the main recording outlet for a longstanding partnership with Scottish pianist and composer Chick Lyall.
Details courtesy of Clifton Edition
Close Encounters for Bb Clarinet & Piano draws on historic themes connected to the medieval closes (also know as wynds or vennels) of the Scottish…
Close Encounters for Bb Clarinet & Piano draws on historic themes connected to the medieval closes (also know as wynds or vennels) of the Scottish burgh town of Lanark, situated in the rural Clyde Valley. Often named after prominent resident business owners, these otherwise unremarkable narrow lanes are given life by the records of their occupiers or through local tales.Aside from the more self explanatory titles, Luminare describes the astronomical interests of electrical pioneer David Hunter; Jumbo Jive relates to the legend of an inebriated circus elephant escapee who became stuck in the arch of Wide Close; Amber Sky connects the India Ale trade of Brewery Close with an occasional, evocative dusk light that cloaks the town before sunset.Suitable for intermediate to advanced clarinettists.
Cover painting by Ronnie Cruwys www.drawingthestreet.co.uk
‘Close Encounters comprises five fascinating and contrasted short movements each set within its own very vivid sound world. The colourful harmonic language is drawn from a number of musical influences including flavours of Jazz, the silver screen and the French impressionists, all adding up to music that is both engaging to play and to listen to. The five movements are set at a comfortable technical level for the intermediate to advanced clarinettist, cover the entire range of the instrument, and the set would make for an intriguing addition to any clarinet recital.’ Paul Harris (composer & clarinettist)
