QUIPS

Quips was composed in 1997 for the Clarinets Unlimited clarinet choir and its then conductor Jos van Lierop. It was premiered at the Groningen “Whoops that Clarinet!” festival under the direction of Rob Smit.
Quips was the final part of a triptych based on a phrase from John Milton’s poem L’Allegro: “Quips and Cranks and Wanton Wiles”. Wanton Wiles (for bass clarinet and marimba) was commissioned in 1985 by bass clarinet player Henri Bok and marimba player Evert le Mair, also known as Duo Contemporain. The piece was played extensively in venues at home and abroad. Cranks (for solo bass clarinet) was written for Henri Bok in 1985.
Quips, which like Cranks, is a very short piece, was based on the blueprint of a very willful little scherzo. The colourful playing styles of Ellington stalwarts Jimmy Hamilton (clarinet) and Harry Carney (baritone saxophone) were an important source of inspiration.
Frans Vuursteen (1954) studied accordion with Egbert Spelde and composition with Willem Frederik Bon at the Groningen Municipal Conservatory. He continued his composition studies in the city of Tilburg where he graduated with Francois Mollinger through Jan van Dijk. He spent quite some time conducting the Filofonisch Orkest, writing and arranging a number of pieces for this wind ensemble. For the Triptychon Ensemble, he arranged Beethoven’s Second and Eighth symphonies for piano, clarinet and cello and composed a piece called Kingfisher. The majority of his works can be classified as chamber music, often taking its cue from Dutch, French or English poetry. More information: www.frans.vuursteen.nl.

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