Unusual recital

Press, 2 June 1979, Page 6

Unusual recital

By C. FOSTER BROWNE

A clarinet recital at the University School of Music on Thursday by Gerard Errante, an American, did not draw from the usual recognised repertoire. Mr Errante played against sounds generated electronically which provided interesting rhyth-i mic schemes of widely varied styles. He played music mainly) of a complicated and impro-i visational nature, producing) many beautiful tone colours) In exciting flourishes and) displaying remarkable breath control.

Varied sounds came from' tht loudspeakers, M&rt-nij with noises like a hippopotamus on the banks of the Zambesi vigorously wielding a toothbrush. Squishv sounds they were, with a wide range of intensity when the animal let itself go with lots of vim and vigour.'

Mr Errante came in always exactly to the split second, which must have meant highly concentrated counting. '

[ Mock attacks on the I loudspeakers, provoking i them to fury, were made in (the next work, a composition by Mr Errante. His habit of speaking to the audience while the louaspeaIkers held the floor seemed 'to engender resentment on [their part.

i Revenge came in the next Ipiece because the speakers [went on strike. Various Iproddings with wires and I rods by Mr Errante and his I assistant brought forth screams of rage, hostility, 1 and abdominal rumblings (presaging dire disaster. The programme, too long [in the first place.’ had by (now exceeded the. time I[ I could allot to it and I had to 'leave. I '