Artist of the Week
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Artist: Hannah Shilvock
Artform: Musician What do you do and what are your main focuses? Bass clarinet specialist across all genres (slowly getting into jazz recently), but mostly contemporary classical solo and chamber work. Mine and my accompanists favourite work to date that we have learnt, and performed (many times) together is a piece called ‘Edifice’, by American composer David Bennett-Thomas. It is a piece that really tells a story, showing the bass clarinet at its’ most quiet |
and controlled, to it being loud and fierce, including extended techniques such a multiphonics, and showcases altissimo notes in a very tasteful way. Myself and Dan Keen never tire of playing this piece.
Where have you studied?
The University Of Southampton for my undergraduate, and Trinity Laban for my postgraduate.
Tell us about your upcoming recital!
At the moment I am working towards the first recital of my masters. To me this is very pressured and important, as I am the first person to take the Bass Clarinet Postgraduate course at Trinity Laban, so I feel I need to prove myself, and my instrument. A surprising number of people have questioned why I am doing this course, when my options may seem fairly limited to some. But those who understand the place of the bass clarinet in the musical world at the moment share my excitement. I have devised an incredibly varied programme, starting with York Bowen’s Phantasy Quintet for bass clarinet and string quartet (c.1932), moving to works by living composers - one in particular being a duet titled ‘Moment’ for bass flute and bass clarinet by American composer David Bennett-Thomas (written in 2007); and ending with Eric Dolphy’s God Bless The Child. I aim to take the audience through a story of how the bass clarinet has been used in different genres, and how it is still developing today.
Where have you studied?
The University Of Southampton for my undergraduate, and Trinity Laban for my postgraduate.
Tell us about your upcoming recital!
At the moment I am working towards the first recital of my masters. To me this is very pressured and important, as I am the first person to take the Bass Clarinet Postgraduate course at Trinity Laban, so I feel I need to prove myself, and my instrument. A surprising number of people have questioned why I am doing this course, when my options may seem fairly limited to some. But those who understand the place of the bass clarinet in the musical world at the moment share my excitement. I have devised an incredibly varied programme, starting with York Bowen’s Phantasy Quintet for bass clarinet and string quartet (c.1932), moving to works by living composers - one in particular being a duet titled ‘Moment’ for bass flute and bass clarinet by American composer David Bennett-Thomas (written in 2007); and ending with Eric Dolphy’s God Bless The Child. I aim to take the audience through a story of how the bass clarinet has been used in different genres, and how it is still developing today.
Why do you play the Bass Clarinet?
I am incredibly passionate about my instrument, and sadly still believe it tends to get overlooked. It is such a beautifully versatile, elegant and exciting instrument - with such a high range of notes, and range of styles it suits, the diversity of music being written for it is incredibly exciting, and I am currently trying to get more repertoire written.
I am incredibly passionate about my instrument, and sadly still believe it tends to get overlooked. It is such a beautifully versatile, elegant and exciting instrument - with such a high range of notes, and range of styles it suits, the diversity of music being written for it is incredibly exciting, and I am currently trying to get more repertoire written.
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Who are you influenced by?
My bass clarinet teacher at the University Of Southampton, Helen Paskins, was my biggest inspiration when I was fairly new to the instrument. She showed me what the instrument is capable of and pushed me out of my comfort zone. Now, having met many other bass clarinet specialists there are a few that really influence me, the primary two being Sarah Watts, and my teacher Paolo De Gaspari. But I also look to other parts of the world where the bass clarinet is being highlighted, and theres an Argentinian bass clarinetist and composer called Sebastian Tozzolla who continues to create music that is just so thoroughly enjoyable to listen to and play. |
What excites you about the art world today?
I am excited because I do not have to be limited to one thing. One day I'm recording a contemporary music project, the next day I’m playing in a symphony orchestra, and then the next I'm performing a solo recital of new music. Thanks to technology, a wider audience can experience the less mainstream side to classical music, therefore I believe that more than ever, there is a demand for it! For me, the social side of Facebook for the small bass clarinet world is exciting. Other bass clarinetists from the USA, Europe, Australia (the list goes on) have reached out to me to praise what I am doing, or discuss ideas with me. This social hub is setting up future collaborations, and this excites me on a daily basis.
Do you have a favourite medium to create with?
I love working with composers. This year I've commissioned a solo Bass Clarinet piece, the bass clarinet and Cor Anglais duet, and a piece for my bass clarinet, flute and piano trio ‘New Woods Collective’. Over the summer I am hopefully working with my old course mate and house mate Dan Keen, who is currently studying Composition for Screen at RCM. His creativity never fails to inspire me as a musician, and hopefully, together we can create something innovative (so watch this space!).
I am excited about expanding the repertoire available, but also being able to put my own personal creative stamp on music, hopefully allowing for some of my personality to come through in what I chose to perform.
I am excited because I do not have to be limited to one thing. One day I'm recording a contemporary music project, the next day I’m playing in a symphony orchestra, and then the next I'm performing a solo recital of new music. Thanks to technology, a wider audience can experience the less mainstream side to classical music, therefore I believe that more than ever, there is a demand for it! For me, the social side of Facebook for the small bass clarinet world is exciting. Other bass clarinetists from the USA, Europe, Australia (the list goes on) have reached out to me to praise what I am doing, or discuss ideas with me. This social hub is setting up future collaborations, and this excites me on a daily basis.
Do you have a favourite medium to create with?
I love working with composers. This year I've commissioned a solo Bass Clarinet piece, the bass clarinet and Cor Anglais duet, and a piece for my bass clarinet, flute and piano trio ‘New Woods Collective’. Over the summer I am hopefully working with my old course mate and house mate Dan Keen, who is currently studying Composition for Screen at RCM. His creativity never fails to inspire me as a musician, and hopefully, together we can create something innovative (so watch this space!).
I am excited about expanding the repertoire available, but also being able to put my own personal creative stamp on music, hopefully allowing for some of my personality to come through in what I chose to perform.
What motivates you?
Im motivated by the musicians around me. I have some good friends who are very talented jazz musicians, and the music they are creating is pushing boundaries, and is very inspiring to me. I am also motivated by seeing musicians that ‘have it all’ - they prove to me that it is possible to have a career that involves classical orchestral work, and contemporary freelance work.
Im motivated by the musicians around me. I have some good friends who are very talented jazz musicians, and the music they are creating is pushing boundaries, and is very inspiring to me. I am also motivated by seeing musicians that ‘have it all’ - they prove to me that it is possible to have a career that involves classical orchestral work, and contemporary freelance work.
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What are your future ambitions? I want people to have a greater awareness of the bass clarinet, and for students to pick it up at a younger age. At times when I was struggling with motivation in music, the bass clarinet was what stopped me giving up. Time and time again I will do performances, even for Trinity Laban, and audience members will come up to me saying that they had never heard/and or seen a bass clarinet before and were fascinated by the fluidity and sound that came out. |
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Anything interesting coming up soon?
Many things! Myself and Catherine Underhill had a duet for bass clarinet and cor anglais written for us by composer Peter Nagle. We premiered this at The Old Royal Naval College Chapel on the 30th April 2019, but we have also had it recorded - so we will be releasing this in the near future which is incredibly exciting! There is also my bass clarinet recital I spoke about above, which is happening on the 12th June at Trinity Laban. I also recently recorded parts for a composition project by Nino Russell called Zodiac. The recording for this will be released soon, with a performance and an installation coming up in London over the summer!
There are also many other exciting events coming up. You can keep up to take with them on my website!
https://www.hannahshilvockmusic.com
Many things! Myself and Catherine Underhill had a duet for bass clarinet and cor anglais written for us by composer Peter Nagle. We premiered this at The Old Royal Naval College Chapel on the 30th April 2019, but we have also had it recorded - so we will be releasing this in the near future which is incredibly exciting! There is also my bass clarinet recital I spoke about above, which is happening on the 12th June at Trinity Laban. I also recently recorded parts for a composition project by Nino Russell called Zodiac. The recording for this will be released soon, with a performance and an installation coming up in London over the summer!
There are also many other exciting events coming up. You can keep up to take with them on my website!
https://www.hannahshilvockmusic.com
