Clive Jenkins

5 Pieces

To mark ten years of lunchtime recitals in the International Series at Plymouth Museum & Art Gallery in 2003, concert organiser Jeanie Moore MVO commissioned Clive Jenkins to write 'fairly light music to run fifteen minutes including a spoken introduction'. She asked for 'Tamarside', originally an orchestral piece, to be included; she liked the tune. The budget wouldn't stretch to the clarinet quintet originally planned so a version for clarinet and piano was produced.
Peter Cigleris premiered the work with the composer accompanying and in 2013 recorded it on 'English Fantasy (Cala CD77015)' with the pianist Antony Gray. The Chamber Ensemble of London took up the work which resulted in the string orchestra arrangement. The version with string quartet had to wait until 2014 when it was played by Colin Parr with members of the Taunton Sinfonietta Ensemble.
The 'Five Pieces' have been given names for the three published editions, all connected with Plymouth:
Richmond Walk is a promenade by the sea.
Plym Valley has woods and a boulder-strewn river with weirs.
Tamarside is the broad estuary between Devon and Cornwall.
The Barbican is Plymouth's bustling old quarter.
Drake Circus is its very busy hub.

'Duration 14 minutes'

Three versions of this work are available:
FIVE PIECES FOR CLARINET QUINTET - Goodmusic GM194
FIVE PIECES FOR CLARINET & PIANO - Goodmusic GM195
FIVE PIECES FOR CLARINET & STRINGS - Goodmusic GMCO151
The orchestral version of TAMARSIDE is available - Goodmusic GMCO150