New Clarinet Works

Dedications & Commissions

Roma Cafolla

: Leslie and Roma discuss the cadenza from Ambidexterity – a concerto written for and dedicated to Leslie, premièred a few years ago at Ewenny priory to a rapturous reception

: Roma premières at Clarinet Convention

: Roma Cafolla

: Trio rehearses Roma’s music

Canzona for clarinet and piano

Lost Childhood for clarinet and piano

Tango Per Tre for clarinet, violin and piano

Coastal Suite: Rolling Waves

Purchase the cd here

Roma Cafolla’s web site

Christopher Ball

ball_cd3 Leslie has recorded the Concerto written for and dedicated to him by Christopher Ball – It is available from this web site, and clips can also be heard here.

“In Leslie Craven the dedicatee, he has the ideal interpreter, commanding and brilliant but above all, warmly expressive, a beautifully full and singing sound throughout the compass with a distinctive English School vibrato.”
Andrew Smith, Clarinet and Saxophone Society of Great Britain Magazine

Christopher Ball’s Oboe concerto and Wind Quintet (featuring Leslie as clarinettist) have recently been re-released on the Dinmore Records Label record number DRD104. Website: www.dinmore-records.co.uk

: Leslie with Christopher Ball

: Leslie and Christopher discussing final interpretive points

Re-issue of “Scenes from a Comedy” and world premiere of NEW CLARINET QUINTET and COR ANGLAIS CONCERTO

“Perfect music for a relaxing summer day” BBC Radio 3

“some of the most delightful music in the modern woodwind repertoire”Recorder Magazine

“I enjoyed the whole 67 minutes of this CD greatly” David Mellor – Classic FM

“exquisite music”…”much melodic and rhythmic variety”…”bathe in the beautiful music”…”Hauntingly mellifluous and melodic”…Paul Arden-Taylor’s “sparkling playing and dazzling virtuosity”…”full of the sheer enjoyment of the music”…”Christopher Ball is a composer and musician of rare brilliance”…”as a conductor he draws playing of great warmth and sensitivity from the Adderbury Ensemble”…”suberb recording“.Quotes from: American Record Guide, Tibia (Germany) and Recorder Magazine

Christopher Ball’s web site

Folk Song Arrangements - Over the hills and far away

Concerto for Clarinet and Strings: 1st mvt - excerpt 2

Invocations of Pan - Pagan Piper

Music For Youth - Syncopations

Folk Song Arrangements - The Lark in the Clear Air

“Over the Hills and Far Away” is on the Grade 5 ABRSM list, and the first movement of the Christopher Ball Clarinet Concerto is listed for Grade 7 in the current ABRSM clarinet syllabus.

……From: “The Clarinet” – the Journal of the International Clarinet Association (USA) : a winner on all fronts – not the least of which is the artistry of Leslie Craven whose playing is effortless and spontaneous.

Purchase the cd here

Anthony Wakefield

: ‘Hauntings’ for clarinet and piano by Anthony Wakefield

: ‘No Fiddle Hoe’ for clarinet choir by Anthony Wakefield

Anthony Wakefield Anthony wrote Hauntings for Leslie, who recorded it on the Expressions CD

Hauntings - Spooks and Spectres

Hauntings - Apparition

Hauntings - Poltergeist

Purchase the cd here

Daniel Bimbi

Composer who wrote ‘El Casot’ and dedicated it to Leslie

El Casot

Lluna (trio for clarinet, flute and piano)

Purchase the cd here

Tom Jackson

Tom Jackson Talented former pupil and composer of the excellent Sonata for clarinet alone. This features some Avant Garde techniques such as multiphonics, quarter tones, growls, vocal sounds, timbral trills and flutter tongue, most of which are described in Leslie’s book Instant Help….