Shawn Earle, clarinet

A concert of contemporary works for solo clarinet influenced by non-western cultures.

While the clarinet is best known for playing Western classical music, it also is very versatile with the ability to produce a variety of different tonalities and timbres. “The Cross-Cultural Clarinet” explores this versatility through works imitating and influenced by South Asian Indian Raga, East African guitar the Nyatiti, Balinese music, and Japanese visual art. A key feature of this program is the solo clarinet without accompanying musicians, however other instruments such as a kick drum, Tibetan tea bowl, and electronic sounds are used to broaden the sonic pallet. While this is an unconventional program, Earle strives to make it accessible to all music lovers through images, audio recordings, and descriptions of each work.

Program:
Evan Zyporyn – Four Impersonations 
John Mayer – Raga Music
Robert Rosen – Sipatsimoyi
Tawnie Olson – Paraclete
Judith Shatin – Cherry Blossom and a Wrapped Thing: After Hokusai 

Canadian clarinetist Shawn Earle performs regularly as a soloist and has been a chamber musician with the Albemarle Ensemble, Cascadia Reed Quintet, Vancouver Clarinet Trio, Trio Dolce, and guest artist with the Novo Ensemble. He also has performed with the Charlottesville Symphony Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Okanagan Symphony, Victoria Symphony, Vancouver Island Symphony, and Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra. Dr. Earle is dedicated to contemporary Canadian clarinet music, while also enjoying traditional repertoire. He completed his Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of British Columbia examining contemporary Canadian clarinet music. He also holds a Master’s degree from the University of Victoria, a Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Music from Acadia University.

View the program