Clarence Barlow. Musica Algorithmica.
Music as one big mathematical puzzle. Like no other British-Indian composer Clarence Barlow knows how to create music from formulas, mathematical patterns and algorithms. It’s almost like magic. Carefully constructed tunes wherein Barlow time after time emphasizes the fun of creating. An unparalleled musical play with music history, technique and complexity. And yet Barlow manages to keep his compositions open for a broad audience with ingenious use of repetition, slow gradual progress and variation. The Dutch ensembles Modelo62 and the Ives Ensemble have sunk their teeth in Barlow’s oeuvre.
In the early nineties Barlow was artistic director of the institute of Sonologie at the Koninklijk Conservatorium in The Hague. This spring an impressive oeuvre overview of Barlow was released on a double CD. Modelo62 took care of all the chamber music. In this Theme we pay attention to some piece of Clarence Barlow which aren’t that well-known. We have a lot of chamber music and a seldom heard great-scale ensemble work called ‘Im Januar am Nil’.
Playlist: Clarence Barlow:
1. ‘…Until…- Version #5’: for keys (1974) on Clarence Barlow: ….Until…. Kristi Becker (piano). Los Angeles River Records LAL2-12 CD
2. ‘Für Simon Jonassohn-Stein’ for chamber music ensemble (2012) on Clarence Barlow: Musica Algorithmica. Ensemble Modelo62 led by Ezequiel Menalled. World Edition 0034 CD
3. ‘Sachets des ciseaux insatiables’ for chamber music ensemble (2002) on Clarence Barlow: Musica Algorithmica. Ensemble Modelo62 led by Ezequiel Menalled. World Edition 0034CD
4. ‘Septima de facto’ for chamber music ensemble (2006) on Clarence Barlow: Musica Algorithmica. Ensemble Modelo62 led by Ezequiel Menalled. World Edition 0034CD
5. ‘1981’ for piano trio (1981) on Clarence Barlow: Musica Derivata. Ives Ensemble led by John Snijders (piano, keys) Hat Hut Records HatArt126 CD
6. ‘variazioni e un pianoforte meccanico’ for Yamaha Disklavier (1986) on Clarence Barlow: Musica Derivata. Ives Ensemble/John Snijders (keys) Hat Hut Records HatArt126 CD
7. ‘Relationships – Version #1’ for chamber music ensemble (1974) on Clarence Barlow: Musica Algorithmica. Ensemble Modelo62 led by Ezequiel Menalled. World Edition 0034 CD
8. ‘…Until…- Version #7’ for guitar and electronic music (1981) on Clarence Barlow: Musica Algorithmica. Santiago Lascurain (Ensemble Modelo62) (guitar and electronic). World Edition 0034 CD
9. ‘…Until…- Version #8’ for piccolo and electronic (1981), on Clarence Barlow: ….Until…. Lucia Mense (flute and electronic). Los Angeles River Records LAL2-12 CD
10. ‘Im Januar am Nil’ for chamber music ensemble (1981-84), on Clarence Barlow: Musica Algorithmica. Ensemble Köln led by Robert HP Platz. World Edition 0034 CD
