Caught in Time
In the instant a shutter snaps, a moment in time is frozen. Capture enough of these moments and you can watch the slow progression of a landscape, an iceberg, a glacier. In much the same way, a recording of a work preserves it—laid end to end to form an album, the recordings become a time-lapse procession of an evolving compositional style. Caught in Time represents just such an evolution, capturing moments in clarinetist/composer David Keberle’s work from 1997 to 2007 upon his return from seventeen years in Rome. These six eloquent and colorful chamber works were all premiered in either Pittsburgh or New York City and feature well known artists and ensembles of the day including Helen Tara O’ Connor (flute), the Pittsburgh Flute Club Flute Choir, Trio Johannes, Daniel Meyer (conductor), Robert Frankenberry (tenor), Eric Moe (piano), and Keberle himself.
Although classically schooled, David Keberle’s musical background also shows a deep understanding of today’s contemporary music and performance techniques. After he journeyed to Italy as a Fulbright scholar in 1979, Keberle elected to stay, working for almost two decades as a freelance composer and clarinetist specializing in new music. While there, he also helped found the ElectraVox Ensemble, a live electronics performance group. After his return to the U.S. he composed “Soundings,” a series of pedagogical compositions utilizing extended techniques for soloists and student ensembles that have been premiered by numerous illustrious soloists.
As a clarinetist, Keberle has performed in concerts and music festivals in North America, South America, China, Europe and the Middle East. He has also participated in recording sessions at IRCAM in Paris and the Italian National Radio (RAI) in both Rome and Naples.
