The Concertos For Clarinet
The Concertos For Clarinet
The Concertos For Clarinet
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The Concertosfor Clarinet
BURNET C. TUTHITT.
the
EVERAL YEARS AGO project of listing all the known concertos for clarinet
was undertaken with the idea of calling them to the attention of my col-
leagues in the hope that this informationwould widen their concept of the music
available to the clarinet soloist. For their guidance a brief description of the
music, its style, difficulty and worth would accompany each listing.
This appeared to be a simple task, covering 30 or 40 items. Research was
begun and to my amazement their number turned out to be legion. A new
dealer's list would add a few; visits to dealers in Europe turned up more. There
is no point in delaying the publication of the list as it stands for it will never be
final or complete. Many works included have not been available for purchase
and many are in libraries which could not be visited. The list as now issued
includes many works of which copies have not been seen. If any readerpossesses
a copy he is willing to lend me for prompt inspection, he is begged to send it
on to me.l
The sources of information have been various, including Geoffrey Rendall's
valuable book, The Clarinet (Philosophical Library, N.Y. 1954) and of course
Eitner's Quellen Lexicon in 10 volumes, to say nothing of catalogs of librariesand
publishers. Everything in the Library of Congress and the Fleischer Library in
Philadelphia has been examined. Other collectors have been of much help,
notably Himie Voxman of the State University of Iowa and Wallace Tenney of
Oakland, California,to both of whom I render thanks.
The use of the clarinet and other wind instruments in solo capacity was quite
the vogue in the eighteenth century even when the instruments themselves were
in an elementary state of mechanicaldevelopment. After about 1825 their use in
concertos lapsed for about a century and was resumed only after the recent
development of a multitude of highly competent wind players at least partly
stimulated by the growth of high school and college bands in the United States.
A literature for their use with the modem instrumentswas in demand.
Musicologists have also been busy, with the result that many early concertos
have been found and published, some in score and more in editions with piano
accompaniment. We must be grateful to the discoverers and to the publishers
who have made them available.
The earliest composerto have used the clarinet is Vivaldi (1675-1743). There
are two concerti grossi for two oboes and two clarinets as the concertino sup-
ported by strings, the scores of which have been published by Ricordi. Attempt
was made to secure the parts, but they turned out to be very expensive and
would have to be imported from Italy, so the project of a Memphis performance
had to be abandoned. The clarinet parts are in the normal Vivaldi style, but
at least they do not completely avoid the chalumeau register, which early
concertos so often do.
iTo Burnet C. Tuthill, 295 Buena Vista Place, Memphis 12, Tennessee.
47
48 JOURNALOFRESEARCH
IN MUSICEDUCATION
Cavallini,Eresto (1807-1874).Concerto.
Not available. WallaceTenney has a copy.
Cimarosa,Domenico (1749-1801), arrangedby Arthur Benjamin.Concerto,for Oboe and
Strings.London: Boosey and Hawkes, 1942.
This work is freely adaptedfrom the piano sonatas of D. Cimarosa. In spite of being
originallyfor oboe a well adjustedpart for clarinetis provided. In early classicalstyle,
it will be useful for a student not technicallyadvanced.
Coenen,JohannesMeinardus(1824-1899).Concertoin Eb. Dresden: Seeling,c.1900.
Void of real musical or melodic idea. Nineteenth century trash. Score and parts in
FleischerLibrary.
Collis,James.Little ConcertosNo. 1 and No. 2. New York: CharlesH. Hansen,1953.
Short, simple works in classical-romanticstyle. Good for teaching and performance.
Musicalif unimportant.
Copland,Aaron (1900-). Concerto.New York: Boosey and Hawkes,1950.
Written for Benny Goodmanwho has recordedit. At first dryly lyrical it becomes
jazzily rhythmical,over-emphasizingthe high register of the clarinet. Musically not
too gratifyingto play.
Cremont,Pierre (1784-1846).First Concertoin Eb, Opus 4. Paris: Gambaro,c.1810.
Late classicalor early romantic. Quite musicaland not too trite. Rondo rather long
but not difficult. Copy in Libraryof Congress.
Cruft, Adrian (1921-). Concertino,for Clarinetin Bb and Strings.Pianofortearrangement
by the composer.London: Joseph Williams,1956. (Mills Music).
A musicallyintelligentwork in three movementsin a modernizedromanticstyle. The
demandson the soloist are tonal and musicalratherthan technical. The melodicideas
are not imaginativebut are well dressed. The piano is obviouslya substitutefor the
stringsbut is adequate.
Crusell,BernhardHenrik (1775-1838).Three concertosare mentionedby Rendall.
Danzi, Franz (1763-1826).Concertante,fur Klarinetteund Klavier. Hamburg:N. Simrock,
1960. Elite edition number3077. Revised by Johann Woscechowski. Mentioned by
Rendall. Really a sonata and very fine.
Debussy, Claude(1862-1918).PremiereRapsodie,pour Clarinette.Paris: Durand, 1910.
A great work, difficultbut highly rewarding. It sounds well with piano in spite of
being scoredfor a large orchestra. Scoreand parts published. Severaltimes recorded.
Dello Joio, Norman (1913-). Concertante,for Clarinetand Orchestra. New York: Carl
Fischer,Inc., 1955.
This is a very fine work. The performanceproblemis musical rather than technical,
but it is not an easy piece. Two movements,of which the latter is a theme with five
variations. Piano is a reasonablesubstitutefor orchestra.
Dobrzynski,Ignacy F. (1807-1867).Concertoin Ab. Cracow:Pol. W. Music, 1953.
A recent reprint. Romantic,ratherlong for its ideas, but with a certaincharm. Not
very difficult.
Dresden,Sem (1881-). Sinfonietta,for Clarinetand Orchestra.Amsterdam:Donemus.
Not available.
Eberwein,TraugottMaximilian(1775-1831).Concerto.
Mentionedby Rendall. Not available.
Fernstr6m,John A. (1897-). ClarinetConcerto,Opus 30.
For clarinet,strings,timpaniand cymbal. In Fleischerlibrary.
Finzi, Gerald (1901-1956). Concerto,for Clarinetand String Orchestra.London: Boosey
and Hawkes, 1951.
One of the best new works; melodiousand well written for clarinet. Not too difficult.
Up to date but not forbiddinglydissonant.
THE CONCERTOSFOR CLARINET 51