20th and 21st Century Chamber Music

The composers highlighted in this hour are a lot more recent than our usual selections! Clarinetist Jaren Hinckley, bassoonist Christian Smith, and pianists Vincent Humphries and Jeffrey Shumway all joined us in our studio today to play for us some lesser-known chamber music from 20th and 21st century composers.  Alec Templeton, who wrote the Pocket Size Sonata was born in Wales in 1909 and was blind from birth. In the 30’s and 40’s he was famous for his radio show “Alec Templeton Time” and memorized his scripts by having them read to him twenty times! A talented composer as well as a radio personality, he studied at London’s Royal Academy of Music under Lloyd Powell and Isador Goodman.  Jonathon Santore is a close friend of performers Jaren and Vincent, and wrote his piece, Adjectives, specifically for them. They premiered the piece at the International Clarinet Association’s ClarinetFest in 2011. Included on the printed score is a quote from a fortune cookie: “Only you can change your life. No one else can do it for you.”  Jaren Hinckley, one of today’s performers, is the final featured composer. Jaren is a professor in the Brigham Young University School of Music, a clarinetist in the Orpheus Winds quintet and one half of the piano/clarinet duo HDuo. His original composition Hinterlands is a beautifully thoughtful piece, inspired by visits to Scotland, Wyoming, and Norway.  Host Bruce Seely chats with the musicians about competitions, compositions, and commendations.  Performers: Jaren Hinckley, clarinet; Christian Smith, bassoon; Vincent Humphries, piano; Jeffrey Shumway, piano;  Repertoire: Pocket Size Sonata – Alec Templeton; Adjectives – Jonathon Santore; Hinterlands – Jaren Hinckley;  Follow Highway 89 on twitter @byuh89