CHRISTOPHER GUNNING (b.1944): Guitar Concerto "Requerdos do Mallorca", Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra, Concertino for Flute and Small Orchestra.

Description: As you know from his Chandos release of two symphonies and oboe concerto (06K099) and, of course, his Chandos disc of film music (12M090), Gunning writes straightforward, tonal and melodic music with his concertos being generally lighter in mood than his symphonies. Which is how it is here in these concertos, two written for the performers on this disc and the clarinet concerto. Each is crafted for the strengths and peculiar characteristics of the solo instrument (almost inevitably, Spanish ones for the guitar, inspired by a holiday in Mallorca) with energetic outer movements surrounding a thoughtful slow one. Craig Ogden (guitar), Michael Whight (clarinet), Catherine Handley (flute), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Christopher Gunning.