Throughout my time at the University of Cambridge, I was fortunate enough to be able to research and learn about a wide variety of Western art music, spanning from the Medieval period to the present day. While at the University, I wrote dissertations focusing on early modern Europe and the role of music in different societies. I also wrote analytical papers on the music of Hindemith and Bruckner, examining different ways in which composers can create a coherent structure in densely chromatic or post-tonal music.
At the Royal College of Music, my attention shifted more to historical performance practice. In 2020, I created a new critical edition of Mozart's Clarinet Concerto for modern clarinet, drawing both on my experience as a clarinettist and research into early modern practices. I also investigated approaches to performing Baroque music on the modern clarinet, using the Telemann Methodical Sonatas and JS Bach Flute Partita as examples that could be successfully transcribed for clarinet. This research was complemented by my studies on the classical clarinet, as I was able to play an original Goulding six-key clarinet from c. 1800 during my time at the RCM.
Alongside my interest in research and writing about music, I also have spent the last few years creating a vast number of arrangements and orchestrations, especially for various wind ensembles. In 2021, I was commissioned to provide bespoke arrangements of challenging repertoire for the Royal College of Music Wind Ensemble: my arrangement of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 'Overture to the Marriage of Figaro' was premiered in July 2021 and my orchestration of Modest Mussorgsky's 'Pictures at an Exhibition' was premiered in November 2021.
Since 2021, I have been a regular collaborator with NYO Inspire, creating seven bespoke arrangements for various woodwind outreach projects as well as adapting parts for orchestral events.
I previously supervised for the undergraduate Music Tripos at the University of Cambridge, teaching mainly about early modern and twentieth-century music. I currently teach the clarinet at Saffron Walden County High School and Katherine Semar Junior School in Essex and also work as a private clarinet and music theory teacher.
A selection of my papers are available to read and download from Academia.edu
Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition - The Market at Limoges. The thing that struck me when studying Mussorgsky's score was the almost obsessive use of sforzando markings throughout this movement, which Ravel bowdlerised into normal accents in his orchestration. These markings made me think that this movement could be an opportunity to incorporate elements of antiphony and hocketing to emulate the chaos of the market scene.
Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition - Tuileries. Here, I wanted to create a light effect throughout, but still with internal contrast. While the outer sections have the oboe and flute in unison (but with different articulation), in the centre of the movement, I have put the alto flute and first oboe in apposition, again trying to create a sense of antiphony.
A brief lecture-recital explaining some of the performance practice issues surrounding the Mozart Clarinet Concerto.
Copyright © 2022 Samuel Huston