Reflections on a Gracious Review

I was honoured to receive a thoughtful and generous review of A Clarinet Almanac from Professor Emeritus Pierre Woudenberg of the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. His kind words mean a great deal to me—not only as a musician, but as someone who has long admired his contributions to the clarinet world.

A Clarinet Almanac is a personal journey—a reflection of decades of playing, teaching, arranging, and exploring the clarinet repertoire. It’s eclectic by design, offering 366 works by 245 composers, many of whom are not well-known, but whose music deserves attention. From solo pieces to chamber and vocal settings, the book is my invitation to fellow clarinetists to wander off the beaten path and discover hidden gems.

Though I spent much of my professional life in medicine, music has always been at the heart of who I am. Since moving to the Netherlands in 1978, I’ve found endless joy in diving deep into compositions that feature the clarinet in unusual or unexpected contexts.

I hope this almanac inspires curiosity and joy in its readers, just as the process of compiling it inspired me. I'm deeply grateful to Professor Woudenberg for his recognition, and to all who continue to keep the clarinet voice alive and evolving.

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