The new home of David Sparks, retired 3D artist (but still playing around)
Music Index
Some recordings from my professional and amateur career. This is a work in progress....
Please note that these recordings were originally mastered on analogue cassette tape.
Some Excerpts from Orchestral Performances (in no particular order):
Several famous solo passages from Borodin's Polivetsian Dances:​​​​​​​​​​
Colorado Symphony Orchestra 9/93
This was my first performance with the CSO. Acting Principal for the season opener.
E-flat clarinet solo from Ravel's Bolero:​​​​​​
Colorado Symphony Orchestra, 9/24/95​
Solo passage from Light Calvary Overture:​​​
Colorado Symphony Orchestra, 11/12/94​
Solo passage from Barber's Overture to the School for Scandal:
Colorado Symphony Orchestra, 1/20/95​
Solo passage from Kodaly's Hary Janos Suite:​​
Colorado Symphony Orchestra, 3/26/95?​
Opening solo from Sibelius'1st Symphony:​​​
Colorado Symphony Orchestra, date:?
E-Flat Clarinet (duet with Bass Clarinet) from Stavinsky's Rite of Spring:
Colorado Symphony Orchestra 9/28/96
There are so many great moments for the E-Falt clarinet in this piece, but this is the one I lost sleep over.
Opening clarinet duet, Bernstein 2nd Symphony:
New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, 11/18/89
When I began my career in New Mexico, I was lucky to play second next to one of the finest clarinetists I've ever known, Luis Baez (recently retired from the San Franciso Symphony).
Can you tell who's who? And yes, it really was played that softly. You need iron lungs to play this at 5,000 ft.
Solo passages from "Music For Theater", a rare piece by Aaron Copland:
New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, 1/30/93
I just remember being asked to play as loud as the trumpet.
Solo E-flat clarinet passage from Shostakovitch's 6th Symphony:
New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, date?
Not my finest E-flat performance (I was very new to the instrument back then) but it's brutally awkward and you don't play for the entire 1st movement so there's plenty of time to stew in your juices before you open the 2nd movement.
Some Solo Performances:
Contrasts for Clarinet, Violin, and Piano, by Bela Bartok, Mvt. 1:
​Considered one of the most difficult chamber music pieces ever written for these 3 instruments (Clarinet, Piano, & Violin).
My thanks to Steve Leonard, violinist, for proposing the challenge.
I include the first movement here since it has the clarinet cadenza at the end, though I am proud of the entire performance in 1992
Theme and Variations for Clarinet by Giacchino Rossini:
​From my Graduate Recital at Northwestern University in 1986.
Jim Howsmon, Piano
As with all these recordings, I wish the recording fidelity could have been better back then. Cassette tape in a Sony Pro Walkman.
Sonata #1 for Clarinet & Piano by Johannes Brahms:
​ Northwestern University, 1986
How lucky could we be to have 2 sonatas for clarinet by Brahms. It really isn't possible to do these masterworks their just due. In hindsight, I had a lot to learn but you dream of an opportunity to play either of these sonatas whether you're truly ready or not. Too bad the piano is so overwhelming in that hall.
Jim Howsmon, Piano
Concertino for Clarinet by Carl Maria von Weber:
​My first solo performance at Northwestern University.
Marcellus insisted on this classic for my 1st performance.
Jim Howsmon, Piano
Trio for Clarinet, Cello & Piano by Johannes Brahms:
​From my Undergraduate Recital at Northwestern University in 1985.
One the true chamber music masterpieces. I wish Sang hand been a bit better at the time but we were all enthusiastic and glad to have this opportunity.
Sang Oh, Cello Jim Howsmon, Piano
3 Pieces for Solo Clarinet by Igor Stravinsky:
​Also from my Undergraduate Recital at Northwestern University.
I had been working on this piece since I was in high school.
This 2nd movement is the ball-breaker.
Fantasy Pieces for Clarinet & Piano by Robert Shumann:
​ Birmingham Alabama, 1992
It's easy for these pieces to sound boring, as with many Schumann works. It's tough just to get through them though. There isn't really much opportunity to take the instrument out of your mouth and get a breather.
Till Eulenspiegel Einmal Anders by Franz Hasenöhrl:
The final work on my Master's Recital, again at Northwetern University, 1986
A chamber music deconstruction of Richard Struass' famous Til Eulenspiegel​'s Merry Pranks but for Violin, Clarinet, Bass, Horn and Bassoon. Kudos to Bob Hanford for agreeing to be my violinist.
Serenade for Winds by Antonin Dvorak:
Arvada Colorado, 1997
In 1997 I had a chance to join other members of the Colorado Symphony to perform and record the Dvorak Wind Serenade, a masterpiece for a unique ensemble of instruments. I've loved this piece since I first played it at Tanglewood in 1985 and jumped at the chance to play it again as a more seasoned professional. Thanks to the late Brady Graham for setting this up. There are some great moments for the clarinet here but the whole piece is worth listening to.