The First & Second
Suites from Razumov
The First Suite is available in two arrangements:
a quintet arrangement for clarinet & string quartet
and a trio arrangement for clarinet, cello & piano
First Suite Duration: ca. 9 minutes
The Second Suite is available only for wind quintet
Second Suite Duration: ca. 16 minutes
Bartholomew's writing has a feeling of film style to it, sprinkled with eclectic hints that never quite materialize into firm influences. Was that a Spanish flair, a ballad, folksong or a dance rhythm? Was that harmonic minor meant to be Arabian? His music has a lilting grace that makes listeners want to join in, dancing or playing along.
— Ruth Bingham, Honolulu Advertiser, March 15, 2010
The First and Second Suites from Razumov derive from Razumov, Greg Bartholomew's chamber opera based on the novel Under Western Eyes by Joseph Conrad (below left). The First Suite is taken from three scenes from Act One of the opera, while the Second Suite is taken from music of Act Two. 
The opera tells the story of a young Russian, Razumov, who is caught up in the consequences when Victor Haldin, a fellow university student, assassinates a government minister.
The First Suite was awarded the Masterworks Prize by ERM Media in 2005 and was awarded the 2012 Cheryl A. Spector Prize by the Third Millenium Ensemble. It was recorded by members of the Kiev Philharmonic for Volume 6 of the Masterworks of the New Era CD series. You may purchase the CD here.
The First Suite was premiered in its original quintet arrangement by Sean Osborn, clarinet, and the OdeonQuartet at Seattle's Town Hall on October 21, 2003, as part of the Sound Currents series of concerts co-sponsored by the Washington Composers Forum and the Seattle Composers Alliance.
The trio arrangement of the First Suite, for clarinet, cello & piano, received its premiere performance September 28, 2008, by Heather Thon, clarinet, Vicky Chow, piano, and Caleigh Drane, cello, on the Composer's Voice concert series in New York City.
The Second Suite was commissioned by a consortium of 20 ensembles led by the Aeolian Winds of Pittsburgh, who presented the world premiere performance on November 9, 2008, at the First Baptist Church of Pittsburgh. The commissioning ensembles are:
|
Aeolian Winds of Pittsburgh |
Powers Wind Quintet (Michigan) |
Purchase Sheet Music
Sheet music for both Suites from Razumov is available from Art of Sound Music.
Performance History
First Suite from Razumov (Quintet version)
Premiered October 21, 2003, by Sean Osborn, clarinet, and the OdeonQuartet, Town Hall, Seattle
January 15, 2005, by Marla Kasdorf, clarinet, Scott Cole & Larry Stubson, violins, Patricia Berlet, viola, and Lisa Truelove, cello, on the Syzygy Concert series, Ashland First United Methodist Church, Ashland, Oregon
March 17, 2013, Third Millennium Ensemble, Garrett Park Town Hall, Garrett Park, Maryland
First Suite from Razumov (Trio version)
Premiered September 28, 2008, by Heather Thon, clarinet, Vicky Chow, piano, Caleigh Drane, cello, Composer's Voice concert series, Jan Hus Presbyterian Church, New York City
November 9, 2008, Morningside Trio, First Baptist Church of Pittsburgh
March 1, 2009, Morningside Trio, First Baptist Church of Pittsburgh
May 17, 2009, Morningside Trio, Bower Hill Community Church, Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania
November 1, 2014, Rachel Condry, Doug Machiz and Irina Behrendt at Foothills Congregational Church, Los Altos, California
Second Suite from Razumov
Premiered November 9, 2008, by the Aeolian Winds of Pittsburgh, First Baptist Church of Pittsburgh
November 16, 2008, Aeolian Winds of Pittsburgh, Bower Hill Community Church, Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania
March 23, 2009, Mexico City Wind Quintet, Escuela Ollin Yolitzli, Mexico City
May 8, 2009, (Part 4 only) Solstice Quintet, Spokane Convention Center, Spokane, Washington
July 18, 2009, Avenue Winds, San Francisco Chamber Wind Festival, San Francisco Conservatory of Music
July 26, 2009, 5 for Dinner, Composer's Voice Concert Series, Jan Hus Presbyterian Church, New York
October 6, 2009, Camas Quintet, Lagerquist Concert Hall, Tacoma, Washington
October 20, 2009, (Part 3 only) Antero Winds, Boulder Public Library, Boulder, Colorado
November 3, 2009, Laureate Wind Quintet, Bloch Learning & Performance Hall, Morgantown, West Virginia
December 1, 2009, (Part 4 only) Quinteto de Viento "Ciudad de Soria," Conservatorio 'Oreste Camarca' de Soria, Spain
March 8, 2010, Spring Wind Quintet, Paliku Theatre, Windward Community College, Kaneohe, Hawaii
March 15, 2010, Doris Duke Theatre, Honolulu Academy of Arts Honolulu, Hawaii, Spring Wind Quintet,