Transit Voices
Carl Vollrath composer
Rane Moore, Timothy Phillips clarinet
Sharan Leventhal violin
Jonathan Miller, Laura Usiskin cello
Randall Hodgkinson, Jeremy Samolesky piano
Navona Records is proud to release TRANSIT VOICES from composer Carl Vollrath. Featuring a series of works for clarinet, the album grapples with existential questions; who were the humans of prehistory, and what defining qualities do our spirits share in common with theirs? Vollrath imagines these clarinet pieces as found archaeological objects, voices from long ago that have somehow made their way to our present-day ears. Inspired by Andrew Robinson’s book Lost Languages: The Enigma of the World’s Undeciphered Scripts, the music plums a cavernous underworld for clues toward a deeper understanding of human existence. This newest album comes on the heels of Vollrath’s acclaimed THE UNFOLDING FLUTE (2020) and is sure to delight listeners with its rich and dynamic works for clarinet.
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Performance Video
Carl Vollrath – Merging Memories | Rane Moore, clarinet; Randall Hodgkinson, piano
"The performances are uniformly exquisite"
Track Listing & Credits
| # | Title | Composer | Performer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Merging Memories | Carl Vollrath | Rane Moore, clarinet; Randall Hodgkinson piano | 8:27 |
| 02 | Testament II | Carl Vollrath | Timothy Phillips, clarinet; Laura Usiskin, cello; Jeremy Samolesky, piano | 11:46 |
| 03 | The Unknown Harbinger | Carl Vollrath | Timothy Phillips, clarinet; Laura Usiskin, cello; Jeremy Samolesky, piano | 11:21 |
| 04 | Trio for Violin, Clarinet & Piano: I. Moonlit Shadows | Carl Vollrath | Sharan Leventhal, violin; Rane Moore, clarinet; Randall Hodgkinson, piano | 6:11 |
| 05 | Trio for Violin, Clarinet & Piano: II. Haunting Thoughts | Carl Vollrath | Sharan Leventhal, violin; Rane Moore, clarinet; Randall Hodgkinson, piano | 8:25 |
| 06 | Trio for Violin, Clarinet & Piano: III. Scherzare | Carl Vollrath | Sharan Leventhal, violin; Rane Moore, clarinet; Randall Hodgkinson, piano | 4:37 |
| 07 | Pollock's Pictures: I. Guardians of the Secret | Carl Vollrath | Rane Moore, clarinet; Jonathan Miller, cello; Randall Hodgkinson, piano | 6:58 |
| 08 | Pollock's Pictures: II. Convergence | Carl Vollrath | Rane Moore, clarinet; Jonathan Miller, cello; Randall Hodgkinson, piano | 8:21 |
| 09 | Pollock's Pictures: III. Cathedral | Carl Vollrath | Rane Moore, clarinet; Jonathan Miller, cello; Randall Hodgkinson, piano | 9:33 |
| 01 | Testament I | Carl Vollrath | Rane Moore, clarinet; Jonathan Miller, cello; Randall Hodgkinson, piano | 8:50 |
| 02 | Clarinet Sonata No. 4: I. Swiftly and Lightly | Carl Vollrath | Rane Moore, clarinet; Randall Hodgkinson, piano | 2:35 |
| 03 | Clarinet Sonata No. 4: II. Dreamily | Carl Vollrath | Rane Moore, clarinet; Randall Hodgkinson, piano | 5:17 |
| 04 | Clarinet Sonata No. 4: III. Rustic | Carl Vollrath | Rane Moore, clarinet; Randall Hodgkinson, piano | 1:36 |
| 05 | Clarinet Sonata No. 4: IV. Swiftly | Carl Vollrath | Rane Moore, clarinet; Randall Hodgkinson, piano | 3:23 |
| 06 | Clarinet Sonata No. 5: I. Expressive | Carl Vollrath | Rane Moore, clarinet; Randall Hodgkinson, piano | 7:00 |
| 07 | Clarinet Sonata No. 5: II. Fast | Carl Vollrath | Rane Moore, clarinet; Randall Hodgkinson, piano | 5:19 |
| 08 | Bela's Bash | Carl Vollrath | Sharan Leventhal, violin; Rane Moore, clarinet; Randall Hodgkinson, piano | 9:52 |
| 09 | Farewell to a Virgin | Carl Vollrath | Rane Moore, clarinet; Randall Hodgkinson, piano | 10:17 |
Recorded February 7, 14, and August 5, 7-11, 2020 at Futura Productions in Roslindale MA
Session Producer Brad Michel
Session Engineer John Weston
Assistant Engineers Jacob Steingart, Travis Karpak
TESTAMENT II, THE UNKNOWN HARBINGER
Recorded January 12, 2012 at Spivey Hall, Clayton State University in Morrow GA
Session Engineer Michael Ozment
Executive Producer Bob Lord
Executive A&R Sam Renshaw
A&R Director Brandon MacNeil
VP, Audio Production Jeff LeRoy
Recording Sessions Director Levi Brown
Audio Director Lucas Paquette
Editing & Mixing (except disc 1, tracks 2 & 3), Mastering Brad Michel
VP, Design & Marketing Brett Picknell
Art Director Ryan Harrison
Design Edward A. Fleming
Publicity Patrick Niland, Sara Warner
Artist Information
Carl Vollrath
Born in New York City to German parents, Carl Vollrath attended Newton High School. He received a B.A. from Stetson University, an M.A. from Columbia University, and an Ed.D. from Florida State University. Vollrath studied composition with Ernst von Dohnanyi Carlisle Floyd, and John Boda. He served with the West Point Military Band at West Point NY from 1953 to 1956 and was a music consultant in Miami FL from 1956 to 1958. He joined the Troy University (AL) faculty in 1965.Major works include six symphonies for band, an opera – The Quest – and a large collection of chamber music, all published by Tap Music (tapmusic.com). MMC Recordings has released three albums of Vollrath’s works, including a two-disc album of clarinet works recorded by Richard Stoltzman entitled Jack’s Fat Cat (2008).
Rane Moore
Clarinetist Rane Moore is well-regarded for her thoughtful, provocative interpretations of standard and contemporary repertoire. Fiercely devoted to the new music communities of the East Coast and beyond, Moore is a founding member of the New York based Talea Ensemble which regularly gives premieres of new works at major venues and festivals around the world. Moore has recently joined the award winning wind quintet, The City of Tomorrow, and is also a member of Boston’s Callithumpian Consort and Sound Icon.
Notes
The title TRANSIT VOICES and some of the ideas in these works were inspired by Andrew Robinson’s book Lost Languages: The Enigma of the World’s Undeciphered Scripts. Most of humanity’s past was not written down until rather late, and stories before that time were passed on orally. Records found are tokens which can only be pieced together as clues; even if understood today, they would now have different meanings.
Most of human history is unknown to us and all we have are underground landscapes. The meaning of words have changed throughout time— what did the word “love” mean 5,000 years ago? How much of their meanings are still with us today? The works here are an attempt to explore the hidden possibilities of humans’ past existence. One might ask: what about Pollock’s paintings? Are they not the most organic paintings in modern history? Since music is an abstract art, we can similarly conceptualize its meaning.
If we found ancient musical scores, what would they sound like, and what would they mean? These clarinet works explore possible answers to these questions, as we find our way through underground landscapes on TRANSIT VOICES.
— Carl Vollrath
