The CASSGB Library database is currently going through an overhaul in preparation for the launch of our new website. Feedback from users regularly asks for the playing standard of works to be included, so this is being taken into account.

Within the last year, the library has taken in several important collections. The first was from the estate of Roy Upton-Holder, a wellknown clarinet and saxophone player, woodwind teacher and conductor who worked in North London before retiring to Welshpool. He founded the Ionian Clarinet Choir (ICC), which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020. His collection includes teaching material and standard repertoire at all levels for clarinet and saxophone, plus a considerable amount of chamber music. Roy had already donated many of his own clarinet choir arrangements to the library some years ago that were produced for the ICC. We’d like to say a special thanks to his son, Ian, who managed to visit the UK from the US in 2021 and make two trips from Welshpool to Cambridge to help with the transfer.

We have also had a donation of wind octets from Cambridge-based James Breed, now retired but a keen amateur clarinettist who regularly played with local chamber ensembles. James made over 20 arrangements for wind octet, several of which were published. Many of these are Romantic works filling the void of works for this combination of players. Also in the donation were a sextet, nonet and two works by Zemlinsky arranged for clarinet and piano by James himself, which have been performed at the Wigmore Hall and broadcast on BBC Radio 3. Former London Saxophone Quartet tenor player and musician Chris Gradwell has donated a huge and valuable collection of works for saxophone quartet, as well as other publications and arrangements for solo clarinet and saxophone, and various ensembles.

These collections have been catalogued but are not yet listed on the CASSGB website. Please contact librarian@cassgb.org if you would like any further information or to view the complete, up-to-date catalogue.

Stephanie Reeve
CASSGB Librarian