Artist description Gary Dranch - New York-based soloist, freelance artist, and educator. Specializes in contemporary music. Frequent recitalist and chamber music performer. Has commissioned and premiered several works for clarinet from composers such as Daniel Wolff, Elliott Schwartz, and Hank Johnson. Education: DMA (1981) U-I at U-C. MM (1977) UNC-G. BM (1975) Eastman School of Music.

Music Style Brazilian/Easy Listening/Classical

Musical Influences Cool Latin, Brazilian Folk/Popular idioms

Similar Artists Villa-Lobos & Aaron Copland

Artist History "The Brasilian Concerto" CD was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category "Best Soloist with Orchestral Accompaniment" Gary Dranch, clarinetist, presented another World Premiere of a Clarinet Concerto by American Composer Craig Morris. The performances took place on November 16th & 18th with the Bronx Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Alessandro Guzman. Dr. Dranch is the invited performer/clinician at the Fifth International Music Festival in Buenos Aires, Argentina from August 19-26, 2002, where he will perform the Wolff Concerto and Craig Morris Clarinet Concertos.

Group Members Gary Dranch - clarinet soloist. Tiago Flores - conductor, ULBRA Chamber Orchestra. Daniel Wolff - Brazilian composer. Performing Ensemble: ULBRA (Brazil).

Instruments Clarinet Concerto - String Chamber Orchestra

Albums Independente DW001

Press Reviews "Classical Guitar" magazine - April 2002, page 43, by Tim Panting. "[...] after hearing this recently Grammy-nominated recording I am of the opinion that [Wolff's] talents are very impressive. The arrangements, performances and compositions here are bursting with a confidence and exuberance that puts this CD in the top range of discs you are likely to hear in a long time.[...] Wolff's Clarinet concerto again exploits the sonorities of the woodwinds. The soloist has much wonderful material to work with and the orchestral players never want for lack of brightly hued washes of colour. This disc can be listened to all through at one sitting and equally delved into to savour the individual pieces. It is one of the most satisfying recordings I have heard in a long time". THE CLARINET JOURNAL - June 2001, page 18: AUDIO NOTES by William Nichols. "I am pleased to have received a disc from clarinetist Gary Dranch entitled Concerto a Brasileira, which presents Brazilian guitarist and composer Daniel Wolff. All of these works are in collaboration with the Chamber Orchestra of Ulbra conducted by Tiago Flores. Additionally, one of most interest to our readers, the disc concludes with a new Concerto for clarinet and string orchestra by Daniel Wolff. The clarinetist here is New York based Gary Dranch, who commissioned the work and played the premiere performances in Porto Alegre, Brazil in April of last year with the orchestra presented on this disc. At the request of Gary Dranch the Concerto is in Brazilian style. This three-movement 26-minute work is traditional in structure as well as in tonal language, and is melodically appealing. It is not a big virtuoso concerto, as has come our way in recent years, but it has a direct and gentle sweetness about it which captures the Brazilian spirit. It is a lovely, straightforward musical expression for clarinet and string chamber orchestra, and a welcome addition to the repertory. The performance from soloist and orchestra is first-rate. Gary Dranch performs with several metropolitan New York orchestras and has made appearances in recital and as an orchestral soloist. He holds the D.M.A. degree from the University of Illinois. Gary possesses one of the darkest, most even and beautifully colored tones I have heard on digital discs lately. His technique is clean and smooth, and his approach, most appropriately in this piece, is unforced. He is in control at all times. The recorded string sound is close-up, somewhat on the dry side, but intimate and quite effective. The balance needs to favor the clarinet a bit more, but the engineers have very successfully captured the clarinet timbre. The production of this disc was supported by several government entities and private institutions and bears no label name. Program notes and biographical information are in Portuguese and English. There is no U.S. distributor; however, the Cd is available from the clarinetist at: 35 West 90th Street, #6D, New York, NY 10024-1507, e-mail: dranchg@vzavenue.net. Good Listening! ELDORADO MAGAZINE, No.7 / Buenos Aires, Argentina - Fall 2001: [Excerpt from CD review by Leandro Suarez: This CD is undeniable proof of the musical richness that can be found in South America, from the hands of musicians of great worth such as Brazilian guitarist Daniel Wolff. The CD closes with Daniel Wolff"s exceptional Clarinet Concerto, whose rhythms remain in the mind of the listener even several minutes after the music has finished. Gary Dranch"s wonderful interpretation is worth noting, as is his interest in expanding the repertoire of the instrument by commissioning works of such rich melodic and rhythmic qualities. A most beautiful CD, which demonstrates faithfully the music of South America and the excellent quality of its interpreters. - Highest rating: three quarter-notes. Tribuna da Imprensa / Rio de Janeiro. December 13, 2000: [Excerpt: The end of the CD highlights Daniel Wolff again as creator. This is achieved through the Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra, a work dedicated to American clarinetist Gary Dranch, who performs it brilliantly.] Violao Intercambio #45 / Sao Paulo. January/February, 2000: [Excerpt: The last work on the CD is his [Daniel Wolff"s] Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra, with Gary Dranch as soloist, an extremely beautiful work, transparent throughout its span and played with mastery by this excellent clarinetist.] ABC Domingo - February 18, 2001: [Excerpt: To close the CD, also in three movements, the Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra by Daniel Wolff, with the American clarinetist Gary Dranch.] The Opinion, Brazil: A top-ranking guitarist. He commands the instrument in all its subtleties and technical complexities. His Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra [is] a wonderful work, developed with the competence of a master. Congratulations, Daniel, continue performing, composing, and arranging. Your work is already a part of our history. EXCITE.COM MP3 review [website at garydranch.musicpage.com] Gary Dranch is a respected and talented clarinet player whose skill inspires composers such as Brazilian Daniel Wolff to compose concertos to highlight his mellifluous, fluid playing. Although the compositions are a little on the light side, Dranch's expert musicianship rings through quite clearly. Review of Gary Dranch"s New York debut recital at Merkin Concerto Hall on November 19, 1990: Strings - May-June 1991: by Edith Eisler. [Excerpt: Clarinetist Gary Dranch invited a large group of friends to participate in his debut, a wise choice, enabling him to play an interesting, varied program and to demonstrate his affinity for many styles, as well as his talents as a chamber musician. In Martinu"s Sonata [sic!] there was fine ensemble, and the work"s charm and characteristic rhythmic quirkiness came through very well. For Mozart"s Trio K.498, they were joined by violist Jacob Glick for an expressive, warm performance. For the final piece, with violinist Katherine LiVolsi and cellist Michael Finckel, was Jean Francaix"s Quintet, a fun piece, full of mischief and charm.

Additional Info The score/parts and piano-reduction score are available from The Free Library of Philadelphia, The Fleischer Collection.

Location New York, New York - USA

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