Singing Wood

Singing Wood is based upon interpretations of four woodcut prints: “Lake Louise” by Walter J. Phillips, “Singing Wood” by Gustave Baumann, “Willows and the Moon” by Arthur Wesley Dow and“Sierra Skyscrapers” by Frances Hammel Gearheart

Genre: Duet for Bb Clarinet & Marimba | # of Players: 2
Level: Medium Easy | Duration: 14:30

Instrumentation
B-flat Clarinet
Marimba (4-octave)

Program Notes
Singing Wood is based upon interpretations of four woodcut prints:

“Lake Louise” by Walter J. Phillips
“Singing Wood” by Gustave Baumann
“Willows and the Moon” by Arthur Wesley Dow
“Sierra Skyscrapers” by Frances Hammel Gearheart

Woodcuts are among the earliest printmaking forms, originating in China shortly after the development of paper. In making a woodcut print, the artist prepares a block to print a design on paper. Those areas to be printed are in relief, higher than those areas that will not print. The block is coated with ink and a sheet of paper is pressed against it. When the paper is lifted away, the cut design appears in ink on the paper.

The advantages of producing large quantities of one design using a single block were apparent to many societies and the technology moved eastward to Japan and westward to Europe. Woodcuts were a primary method of commercial printing for many centuries

Around the turn of the 20th century, European and North American artists took a renewed interest in woodcut prints. Their subjects included nature scenes and rustic settings. Intricate detail and subtle coloration characterize these works. The four artists celebrated in this composition are representative of this school.

- Greg Danner