When
Silvia Castillo came to Holland in 1997
and married the Dutch bass clarinet player Harry
Sparnaay, they joined also their musical forces in the form of
Duo LeVent. Founded in 2000, this duo combines, uniquely, bass clarinet
and organ, and is the only one of its kind in the world to date. The
name LeVent is French for "the wind" (le vent), a language
which they used during the first part of their marriage. Composers from
several countries immediately expressed interest in writing for the
duo, and in the few years since its foundation more than 40 pieces have
been written by composers from Poland, China, Germany, the Netherlands,
America, Canada, Mexico, Sweden, France, Turkey, Spain and Greece. Interest
in this combination has grown among both composers and concert organisations.
The Duo LeVent has given concerts in Europe, America and Australia.
In April 2005 they produced a CD recording for the Edmonton Composers
Society in Edmonton, Canada. Harry Sparnaay is professor of bass clarinet
at the ESMUC in Barcelona, and plays on the last model Prestige by Buffet
Crampon.
