Carl Baermann
Variations for Clar & Orchestra
in F Major (Op. 63, No. 25)
in Bb Major (Op. 63, No. 32)

Carl Baermann (often seen as “Karl Bärmann”), clarinetist, basset-horn player, teacher and composer, was born in Munich on October 24, 1810 and died on May 23, 1885, in Munich. His father was Heinrich Baermann (1784-1847), the most famous clarinetist of the first half of the 19th century - for whom Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826) composed: Concertino (Op. 26), Concerto No. 1 in F Minor (Op. 73), Concerto No. 2 in Eb Major (Op. 74), Variations (Op. 33) and Quintet (for Clarinet & Strings, Op. 34).

Carl also played the basset-horn, a lower pitched type of clarinet in F, with range extended down to low C - Felix Mendelssohn’s (1809-1847) 2 Concert Pieces, Op. 113 & 114, were written for Heinrich (on clarinet), Carl (on basset-horn) and Mendelssohn himself on piano.

Although Carl was an excellent performer and toured with Heinrich for several years, he was best known as a composer (over 88 works) and teacher.

Upon Heinrich’s retirement in 1834, Carl succeeded him as principal clarinet with the Court Orchestra in Munich; also in this orchestra was flautist Theobald Boehm (1794-1881), the inventor of the modern flute (1847).

Probably because of this close association with Boehm, Carl Baermann, along with instrument maker Georg Ottensteiner, invented an 18 keyed clarinet in 1860. The modern “Boehm” system clarinet had been invented in Paris in 1844 by clarinetist Hyacinthe Klosé (1808-1880) and instrument maker Louis-Auguste Buffet - Theobald Boehm had nothing to do with the “Boehm” system clarinet.

Baermann’s “Celebrated Method” (Op. 63 & 64, written between 1864 and 1875) was, among other things, designed to display the advantages of his clarinet over other fingering systems; although Carl’s clarinet was superior to many of the earlier fingering systems, and was championed by many clarinetists including Richard Mühlfeld (1856-1907) - the clarinetist for whom Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) composed his Trio, Op. 114 (for clarinet, cello & piano), Quintet, Op. 115 (for clarinet & strings) and 2 Sonatas, Op. 120 (for clarinet & piano) - the Boehm system eventually became the standard, and Carl’s clarinet fingering system disappeared.

His “Celebrated Method” (and its Piano accompaniment) did survive and is still widely used today, representing an interesting example of a clarinet playing tradition, passed from father to son, starting in the Classical Period (1750-1825), with Heinrich and continuing through the Romantic Period (1825-1900).

Both Variations are from the first book (Op. 63) of the “Celebrated Method”, Studies No. 25 in F (Eb Concert) & 32 in Bb (Ab Concert), arranged for Clarinet and Orchestra (originally for Clarinet and Piano).

Solo Clarinet part - 9”X12” - 12 pages - $14.95
with CD - 2 smp files:
- Op. 63, No. 25 (4/4, Andante maestoso, quarter = 60; 2/4, Andante, quarter = 68);
- Op. 63, No. 32 (4/4, Andante con moto quasi Allegro moderato, quarter = 80; 3/4, Allegro molto moderato, quarter = 84).
Please note that this is NOT an AUDIO CD
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