Artist description
Gary Dranch - New York-based soloist, freelance artist, and educator. Specializes in contemporary music. Frequent recitalist and chamber music performer. Has commissioned and premiered several works for clarinet from composers such as Daniel Wolff, John Bavicchi, Elliott Schwartz, and Craig Morris. Education: DMA (1981) U-I at U-C. MM (1977) UNC-G. BM (1975) Eastman School of Music.

REVIEWS: =======
THE 20TH CENTURY CLARINET CONCERTO – Gary Dranch MS1180 "Dranch performs [the Wolff] beautifully with an ease and effortless quality that matches the style of the work exquisitely. The string ensemble is clear, clean and crisp throughout. Dranch's sound is amazingly dark and without edge even in the altissimo. Dranch's perfect intonation and control in the slow sections [in the Bavicchi] is notable and the performance by soloist and orchestra alike is admirable...[Hindemith's Concerto] is a welcome conclusion to this CD...Dranch is highly musical throughout...He seems keenly aware of the neoclassical influence, and injects them in his interpretation. Dranch is precise and reserved...The orchestra is immaculately clean throughout this work. I recommend this recording as a worthy addition to the contemporary clarinetist's audio library....there is something for everyone here, and then some. Gary Dranch is supremely adept at handling the technical and musical challenges that arise in these works."
The Clarinet, March 2007

'Buenos Aires Herald' - March 23, 2005 by Pablo Bardin: "[...... The excellent US clarinettist Gary Dranch made his local debut last year and was certainly a very proficient player. ...]"

‘CLASSICAL GUITAR’ magazine - April 2002, page 43, by Tim Panting. "“[…] after hearing this recently Grammy-nominated recording I am of the opinion that [Wolff's] talents are very impressive. The arrangements, performances and compositions here are bursting with a confidence and exuberance that puts this CD in the top range of discs you are likely to hear in a long time. […] Wolff's Clarinet concerto again exploits the sonorities of the woodwinds. The soloist has much wonderful material to work with and the orchestral players never want for lack of brightly hued washes of colour. This disc can be listened to all through at one sitting and equally delved into to savour the individual pieces. It is one of the most satisfying recordings I have heard in a long time”.

‘THE CLARINET’ journal – June 2001, page 18: “Audio Notes” by William Nichols. “I am pleased to have received a disc from clarinetist Gary Dranch entitled Concerto a Brasileira, which presents Brazilian guitarist and composer Daniel Wolff. […] All of these works are in collaboration with the Chamber Orchestra of Ulbra conducted by Tiago Flores. Additionally, one of most interest to our readers, the disc concludes with a new Concerto for clarinet and string orchestra by Daniel Wolff. The clarinetist here is New York based Gary Dranch, who commissioned the work and played the premiere performances in Porto Alegre, Brazil in April of last year with the orchestra presented on this disc. At the request of Gary Dranch the Concerto is in Brazilian style. This three-movement 26-minute work is traditional in structure as well as in tonal language, and is melodically appealing. It is not a big virtuoso concerto, as has come our way in recent years, but it has a direct and gentle sweetness about it which captures the Brazilian spirit. It is a lovely, straightforward musical expression for clarinet and string chamber orchestra, and a welcome addition to the repertory. The performance from soloist and orchestra is first-rate. Gary Dranch performs with several metropolitan New York orchestras and has made appearances in recital and as an orchestral soloist. He holds the D.M.A. degree from the University of Illinois. Gary possesses one of the darkest, most even and beautifully colored tones I have heard on digital discs lately. His technique is clean and smooth, and his approach, most appropriately in this piece, is unforced. He is in control at all times. The recorded string sound is close-up, somewhat on the dry side, but intimate and quite effective. The balance needs to favor the clarinet a bit more, but the engineers have very successfully captured the clarinet timbre. The production of this disc was supported by several government entities and private institutions and bears no label name. Program notes and biographical information are in Portuguese and English. This CD is available at the Tower Records location at 66th Street and Broadway, New York City, and from Luthier Music Corp., http://www.luthiermusic.com. In Brazil, this CD is available at Modern Sound Mega Music Store. Good Listening!”

Press reviews of the CD ‘The Brazilian Concerto’: (translations from Spanish or Portuguese)

ELDORADO MAGAZINE, No.7 / Buenos Aires, Argentina - Fall 2001: [Excerpt from CD review by Leandro Suarez: “This CD is undeniable proof of the musical richness that can be found in South America, from the hands of musicians of great worth such as Brazilian guitarist Daniel Wolff. […] The CD closes with Daniel Wolff’s exceptional Clarinet Concerto, whose rhythms remain in the mind of the listener even several minutes after the music has finished. Gary Dranch’s wonderful interpretation is worth noting, as is his interest in expanding the repertoire of the instrument by commissioning works of such rich melodic and rhythmic qualities. A most beautiful CD, which demonstrates faithfully the music of South America and the excellent quality of its interpreters.”.] - Highest rating: three quarter-notes.

Tribuna da Imprensa / Rio de Janeiro – December 13, 2000: [Excerpt: “The end of the CD highlights Daniel Wolff again as creator. This is achieved through the Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra, a work dedicated to American clarinetist Gary Dranch, who performs it brilliantly”.]

Violao Intercambio #45 / Sao Paulo – January/February, 2000: [Excerpt: “The last work on the CD is his [Daniel Wolff’s] Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra, with Gary Dranch as soloist, an extremely beautiful work, transparent throughout its span and played with mastery by this excellent clarinetist.”]

ABC Domingo – February 18, 2001: [Excerpt: “To close the CD, also in three movements, the Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra by Daniel Wolff, with the American clarinetist Gary Dranch”.]

The Opinion, Brazil: “A top-ranking guitarist. He commands the instrument in all its subtleties and technical complexities. His Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra [is] a wonderful work, developed with the competence of a master. Congratulations, Daniel, continue performing, composing, and arranging. Your work is already a part of our history”.

Review of Gary Dranch’s New York debut recital at Merkin Concerto Hall on November 19, 1990:

“Strings” - May-June 1991: by Edith Eisler. [Excerpt: “Clarinetist Gary Dranch invited a large group of friends to participate in his debut, […], a wise choice, enabling him to play an interesting, varied program and to demonstrate his affinity for many styles, as well as his talents as a chamber musician.[…] In Martinu’s Sonata[sic!] there was fine ensemble, and the work’s charm and characteristic rhythmic quirkiness came through very well. For Mozart’s Trio K.498, they were joined by violist Jacob Glick for an expressive, warm performance. […] For the final piece, with violinist Katherine LiVolsi and cellist Michael Finckel, was Jean Francaix’s Quintet, a fun piece, full of mischief and charm.[…]”