B. H. Crusell
Flute Quartet
in D Major (Op. 8)
for Flute and Strings

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.

Crusell based Flute Quartet in D Major (Op. 8) on Clarinet Quartet No. 3 in D Major (Op. 7). Although the string parts are the same, rather than being a strick transcription, the Flute part often differs from the Clarinet part of Op. 7.

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).

Solo Flute part - 9”X12” - 20 pages - $14.95
with CD - 10 smp files: 2 versions (regular & “X”) of each:
- 1st Movement (4/4, Allegro, quarter = 116);
- 2nd Movement (3/4, Un poco Largo, quarter = 52);
- 3rd Movement (3/4, Minuet & Trio, Allegro, quarter = 144);
- 4th Movement (2/4, Allegro, quarter = 112);
- Complete (All four 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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