B. H. Crusell
Introduction &
Allegro (Op. 12)
for Clarinet and Orchestra
Bernhard Henrik Crusell, clarinetist and composer, was born on
October 15, 1775 in Nystad, Finland and died on July 28, 1838 in
Stockholm, Sweden. Although he did compose for other instruments and
won the Swedish Academy’s Gold Medal in 1837 for his Swedish
translations of French, German and Italian operas, he is probably most
remembered for his works for the clarinet, most of which were written
between 1803 and 1812: 3 Concertos for Clarinet and Orchestra (Op. 1 in Eb Major, Op. 5 in F Minor and Op. 11 in Bb Major), a Symphonie Concertante (Op. 3, for clarinet, horn and bassoon), 3 Duets (Op. 6, for two clarinets), Introduction and Variations (Op. 12, for clarinet and orchestra) and 3 Quartets (for clarinet, violin, viola and cello, Op. 2 in Eb Major, Op. 4 in C Minor and Op. 7 in D Major).
The Opus numbers represent the order in which the works were published,
rather than the order of composition; Concertos No. 1, 2 and 3 were not
necessarily written in that order.
Most of the major works for the clarinet were written for clarinetist who were friends of the composers: W. A. Mozart (1756-1791) wrote his Trio, K. 498 (for clarinet, viola & piano), Quintet, K. 581 (for clarinet & strings) and Concerto, K. 622, for clarinetist Anton Stadler (1753-1812); Ludwig Spohr (1784-1859) wrote 4 Concertos and various other solos for clarinetist Johann Hermstedt (1778-1846); Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826) wrote his Concertino, Op. 26, Variations, Op. 33 (for clarinet & piano), Quintet, Op. 34 (for clarinet & strings) and 2 Concertos, Op. 73 & 74 for clarinetist Heinrich Baermann (1784-1847); and Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) wrote his Trio, Op. 114 (for clarinet, cello & piano), Quintet, Op. 115 (for clarinet & strings) and Two Sonatas, Op. 120 (for clarinet & piano) for clarinetist Richard Mühlfeld (1856-1907). Of these clarinetists, only Heinrich Baermann also composed for the clarinet.
Crusell’s Chamber music is interesting, in that, he, quite correctly,
treated all of the instruments relatively equally. Many works for
clarinet and strings, Weber’s Clarinet Quintet (Op. 34)
for example, focus almost exclusively on the clarinet, relegating the
strings to merely accompaniment; however, most of Crusell’s Chamber
works for clarinet and strings have interesting and challenging parts
for not only the clarinet but also the strings too, especially Clarinet
Quartet No. 3.
Crusell played an 11-keyed clarinet made by the Berlin instrument maker Heinrich Grenser (1764-1813) - a fact worth remembering when performing his works on a modern Boehm system clarinet with 17 keys and 6 rings.
G. Rossini
Andante & Variations
for Clarinet and Orchestra
Gioachino Antonio Rossini, composer, was born on February 29,
1792 in Pesaro, Italy and died on November 13, 1868 in Passy, France.
In his youth he was a singer and also studied the Cello and Piano. He
was without doubt the greatest Italian composer in the first half of the
Nineteenth Century.
Rossini composed a wide variety of music
including several Masses and Cantatas but he is best known for his 39 Operas. The first, Demetrio e Polibio, was written in 1807 (not performed until 1812) but his last opera, William Tell, was composed in 1829 - almost 40 years before his death!
Andante & Variations was written in 1820 using a theme from his opera “La dona del largo” (1819 - based on Walter Scott’s “The Lady Of The Lake”).
Rossini also composed an earlier Theme and Variation for Clarinet in C in 1809.
Solo Clarinet part - 9”X12” - 20 pages - $14.95
with CD - 2 smp files:
Crusell
(4/4, Allegro con brio, quartet = 120; 2/4. Andante con moto, eighth =
110; Un poco più lento. eighth = 60; Più mosso, eighth = 120; Andante
con moto, eighth = 110; Andante, eighth = 132)
Rossini (6/8, Andante,
eighth = 84; 4/4, Allegro, quarter = 128; Tutti-Allegro con brio,
quarter = 144; Più mosso, quarter = 132; Allegro, quarter = 128;
Tutti-Allegro con brio, quarter = 144; Allegro, quarter = 128;
Tutti-Allegro con brio, quarter = 144; Largo, eighth = 72; Più mosso,
quarter = 144)
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