Thrilling exoticism

A Caribbean palm beach with a fishing boat adorns the cover of this duet booklet by Austrian composer and saxophonist Florian Bramböck and thus shows where the musical journey is heading. The 16 tracks - some original compositions, some arrangements of well-known melodies - tell of or originate from Africa, South America, the Caribbean and New Orleans and are as much fun to play as they are to listen to. In terms of the range and keys used, the pieces range from easy to medium difficulty. However, they do present some rhythmic challenges that need to be mastered by clarinettists who are not so experienced in these styles.

Bramböck also knows how to set well-known titles in an exciting and very good-sounding way for the clarinet. Hits in this edition include, for example, the well-known Buena Vista Social Club Chan Chan or Miriam Makebas Pata Pata to be found. But the well-known folk and children's song La Cucaracha by setting it in ¾ time, Florian Bramböck is able to take on completely new and surprising aspects. And so it even appears twice in the booklet: once as an overture and finally as an effective "dramatico" waltz finale - what fun! With titles like Strait, more width (a merengue!) or the cool cruising cha-cha-cha Three Days Off in My Cadillac Bramböck shows his musical humor. Some of the titles are also available in an edition for three clarinets, which is also highly recommended (UE 35568).

Florian Bramböck: Afro-Latin Clarinet Duets, 16 pieces for two clarinets, UE 34535, € 14.95, Universal Edition, Vienna 2019