Ensemble 360 musicians Ruth Gibson and Tim Horton performed the 1919 Viola Sonata by Rebecca Clarke and Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata, transcribed for the viola
A worthwhile concert. Though I have a recording of the Schubert, I have never really listened to it and it was lovely to hear this work live, when there was time to concentrate and focus, and to enjoy both the characteristic melancholy and freshness of the sonata. The Clarke sonata was interesting, though I am not sure I would ever search it out to hear again – like the previous evening’s Ruth Gipp work, Vaughan Williams was the obvious influence. It has to be said – and this would be true of both this work by Clarke and the work by Gipp – that they are no better and no worse than many other pieces by Moeran, Bliss, Ireland, Bridge etc, and that the fact that both pieces were written by women has played a part in their being buried by history – however it doesn’t mean their neglect is unjustified, any more than the neglect of many other works written by the aforesaid males!
John's musical journey 