Classical instrumental music, written for the basset horn: a kind of clarinet which is used very rarely. Mozart was one of the first composers who has written music for this instrument. The sound of the basset horn is of a rare beauty.

19 MP3 Songs
CLASSICAL: Traditional, EASY LISTENING: Background Music



Details:
There is no doubt that Mozarts close friendship with Anton Stadler (1753-1812) was essential why he was so interested in the basset horn, a clarinet in F originating to 1760 in Passau. Anton and his brother Johann (1755-1804) were both distinguished virtuosos on the clarinet and the basset horn. They were in the service of Prince Galizin, the Russian envoy to the Viennese court, and they played frequently in the concerts of the âWiener Tonkünstlersozietätâ (The Viennese Society of Composers). In september 1785, Anton Stadler joined the freemasons lodge âZum Palmbaumâ. It is very likely that Mozart himself was present at this ceremony. In october of the same year, Mozart and Stadler played a concert in Zum Palmbaum before the basset horn players Anton David and Vinzent Springer. Also in other lodges, the duo was very wellcome to perform. Many of the chamber music compositions Mozart wrote for the basset horn were initially ment for performing during masonic celebrations. Anton Stadler was not only the clarinet player to whom some of Mozartâs greatest works were dedicated. He was also a composer like many professional instrumentalists of that time, even if his undeniable talent cannot be equated with the genius of his friend Mozart. Nevertheless, his 18 terzetti for 3 basset horns show a great sense of musical creativity, highly contributing to the popularity of the basset horn in 18th century Vienna.


Hideaki Iwai studied music at the Osaka University of Education, where he obtained his Bachelorâs Degree in 1972. Thereupon his skills were perfected with prof. Walter Boeykens at the Royal Flemish Music Academy in Antwerp, Belgium. There he achieved the âHigher Diplomeâ for clarinet in 1974.
He performed in recitals and concerts with a.o. the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra and the Telemann Chamber Orchestra in prestigeous concert series.
Hideaki Iwai toured in Hong Kong (1977) and Shangai (1984). He performed together with prof. Dimitrov of the Sofia Conservatory of Music in Bulgaria in 1984 and with the St. John Quartet (Canada) in 1993. In 1995 he recited with the New York Philharmonic String Quartet and in 1998 het performed the Mozart Clarinet Concerto in Bulgaria. At present, Hideaki Iwai is professor at the Osaka Shin-Ai College and at the Osaka University of Arts, where he founded the âHideaki Iwai Clarinet Choirâ, concisting of former and present students. With this remarkable ensemble, he performs in Japan, Korea, New-Zealand, Belgium, Ireland and the USA.

Bob Van de Velde studied the clarinet at the Royal Flemish Conservatory of Music in Antwerp with prof. Walter Boeykens, where he graduated in 1990 with a First Prize Cum Laude. Afterwards, he specialized in playing period-instruments at the Brussels Conservatory with prof. Guy Van Waas. During his studies, he intensively examined and studied the repertoire for the Bassethorn and the bass-clarinet.
On a free-lance base, Bob appeared in virtually all Belgian professional Orchestras. In 1989 he founded the Flanders Clarinet Quartet. With this extraordinary ensemble, he performed over 400 times all over Europe, South-America and the Far-East. His very first concert tour brought him to the Salzburger Festspiele in Austria, where he played in duo with his wife Christa Steenhuyse (piano). In 1997 he was invited to perform with the Orquesta Nacional del Ecuador under maestro Medardo Caisabanda. Since then, he gives masterclasses and performs all over Europe, in Japan and in South-America.

Takehiro Shinohara studied with prof. Hideaki Iwai at the Osaka University of Arts. After his studies in Japan, he perfected his skills in Paris at the âécole normale de musiqueâ with prof. Guy Deplus, where he obtained the âDiplôme Supérieur de concertisteâ and the âDiplôme Supérieur de musique de chambreâ in 2006. His other professors are Philippe Berrod, Nina Patarcec and Walter Boeykens (masterclass Bruges 2004). Takehiro Shinohara has won several international competitions: âConcours of Wind Instruments 1998â in Hyogo (Grand Prize), âConcours for young musicians 2002â in Osaka (2nd prize), âConcours international Ufamâ in Paris (2nd prize) and the âConcours International Leopold Bellanâ in Paris (1st prize).

Kazumi Itani graduated at the âOsaka College of Musicâ bij prof. Tetsuo Ogawa. Zij won de derde prijs in de âTakatsuki Music Competitionâ.
In 2005 concerteerde zij op het Wereldcongres van de World Clarinet Society in Tama (Tokyo).