Transcriptions 2CD

Transcriptions is Clive’s brand-new and first purely ‘classical’ album. Previously Clive has given orchestral ‘re-compositions’ of various Twelfth Night tracks (Suite Cryptique), and then to the progressive sounds that soundtracked his teenage years (Tales From A Misspent Youth – Vol I).

However, this time is it the world of traditional classical music that Clive has reached into for his latest release where he has interpreted some well-known and well-loved classical pieces. All the music was arranged (transcribed), programmed and recorded by Clive in his London home September 2021 to September 2022. Transcriptions is being released as a double CD in November 2022.

The full track listing is as follows

CD1

Prokofiev: Symphony No.1 in D major Op.25, "Classical" arranged for two pianos and orchestra
1. Allegro
2. Larghetto
3. Gavotta: Non troppo allegro
4. Molto vivace


Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis in G minor arranged for two pianos and two string orchestras
5.Largo Sostenuto

Bach: Concerto for 2 Harpsichords and Strings BWV1062 in C minor arranged for three pianos and strings
6. Vivace
7. Andante e piano
8. Allegro assai

Mozart: Concerto for Flute and Orchestra in G major K.313 arranged for two pianos and orchestra
9. Allegro
10. Adagio
11. Rondo: Allegro


CD2

Haydn: Symphony No.101 in D major Hob.1/101, “The Clock” arranged for two pianos and orchestra
1. Adagio, Presto
2. Andante
3. Menuetto, Allegretto
4. Vivace

Debussy: Prélude à l‘après-midi d‘un faune in E major L.86 arranged for two pianos and orchestra
5. Très modéré

Schubert: String Quartet No.14 in D minor D.810, "Death and the Maiden" arranged for two pianos and two violin sections
6. Allegro
7. Andante con moto
8. Scherzo: Allegro molto
9. Presto

Beethoven: Piano Sonata in E flat Op.27 No.2 "Quasi Una Fantasia" arranged for piano, flute and strings
10. Adagio sostenuto

A note of explanation from Clive: Should you not be a frequent listener to classical music, transcriptions usually involve the re-writing of, for example, an orchestral piece, for another instrument such as the piano. What is unusual here, is that I have combined my transcriptions with the original pieces to create "piano concertos‘. You will not find this music performed in this way elsewhere, I believe.

With the exception of the Bach, all pieces have been set for one or two pianos and orchestra. Percussion has not been required owing to the percussive nature of the piano and brass is omitted in places to provide space for the piano. Orchestral scores have been re-arranged for the same reason. For the Bach, the harpsichords are on pianos to the left and right, with the strings in movements 1 and 3 on a central piano. All strings are antiphonally placed and on such as the Vaughan Williams, are in greater forces than the score suggests. The piano and string transcriptions/arrangements are by Clive, with the exception of the Debussy which is based on Debussy‘s own for four hands. The string arrangement on the Beethoven is by Clive. He hopes that this album may inspire others who can, to perform the pieces live with an orchestra.

To create the sounds on the album Clive uses two pianos: the Garritan Yamaha CFX Concert Grand and Synthology Ivory II Italian Grand (Fazioli f308), controlled from a Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S61 Mk.2 and an 88 note dedicated piano controller keyboard with pedals. Strings and wind are by Spitfire Audio, brass by Native Instruments and Orchestral Tools. Clive also uses a Minimoog occasionally to support the bass.

A 27" iMac with 32GB RAM and Logic Pro music production software was used throughout.

At no point in recording or mastering was a compressor or limiter used. The dynamic range on these CDs is precisely the same as that heard in the studio