Heinrich Baermann
Clarinet Quartet in Bb Major
(Op. 18) for Clarinet & Strings

Heinrich Baermann, clarinetist and composer, was born on February 14, 1784 in Potsdam, Germany and died on June 11, 1847 in Munich, Germany.  Baermann (often seen as “Bärmann”) was the most famous clarinetist of the first half of the 19th century, touring extensively throughout Europe.

Baermann had several composers write works for him:  Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791-1864) wrote a Quintet (for clarinet & strings); Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) wrote a Sonata (for clarinet & piano) and 2 Concert Pieces, Op. 113 & 114 (for clarinet, basset-horn & piano).

Most notable was Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826) who met Baermann in Darmstadt, in early 1811, while Baermann was on tour, and immediately began writing works for Baermann.  The Concertino (Op. 26) was first performed on April 5, 1811, in Munich and the Concerto No. 1 in F Minor (Op. 73) on June 13, 1811.  Weber performed a “Concert Rondo” on November 11, 1811 in Munich, which he eventually used as the basis for the 3rd movement of Concerto No. 2 in Eb Major (Op. 74), first performed by Baermann on November 25, 1811.  Weber and Baermann toured together from December 1, 1811 to March 28, 1812.  The Variations (Op. 33) was hastily written on December 3, 1811 for a performance the following day in Prague, when it was realized that they had no works for clarinet and piano, alone.  The Quintet (Op. 34) for Clarinet & Strings was begun in September, 1811 but not completed until 1815.

Baermann also composed many works - concertos, quartets and 3 quintets for clarinet & strings (published in 1820-1821): Op. 19 in Eb Major, Op. 22 in F Minor and Op. 23 in Eb Major (with two “ad libitum”, i.e., optional, Eb Horn parts).  

Full string sounds (“tutti strings”) have been employed in the smp files because of the very inferior sounds for solo string used in SmartMusic since version 9 (the solo string sounds before version 9 were quite good - far less strident).

Also included are “X” versions of the smp files, which do employ solo string sounds (i.e., solo violin, viola & cello).

9”X12” - 12 pages - $14.95
CD - 8 smp files - regular & “X” versions of:
 - 1st Movement (4/4, Allegro moderato, quarter = 120);  
 - 2nd Movement (4/4, Adagio, eighth = 72);
 - 3rd Movement (4/4, Rondo Andantino, quarter = 104);
 - Complete (All three movements).
Please note that this is NOT an Audio CD
and an active SmartMusic subscription is needed to play smp files

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