Klarinet Archive - Posting 000155.txt from 1994/06

From: Bernard Hunt <ega028@-----.UK>
Subj: Re: Noreen's interest in K. 361/370a, the GP
Date: Thu, 30 Jun 1994 05:37:15 -0400

> As for the two clarinet parts, there are several hidden traps, one
> terrifying one in the 2nd clarinet. The variations movement has a
> difficult alberti bass passage for the 2nd clar. and the autograph
> score has the passage as tongued. Most of the extant editions
> (Kalmus, Breitkopf, Broude, Musica Rara) slur the passage under the
> assumption that Mozart must have made a mistake. I don't think
> it is as simple as that?

Dan,

I'm glad you mentioned this, so I know it's not just me being a wimp !*
I had the opportunity to perform the gp in Vienna a couple of years
back, as part of a university orchestra tour (when we also did the
Requiem, possibly giving the Austrian premiere of the Maunder edition).
I remember this section very well (I was playing 2nd clarinet, and yes -
we did have basset horns), particularly the first 'sight read' run
through rehearsal.
I would agree with you about the tongueing - I am not a musician, and
although I consider myself competent on clarinet, I am in no way
professional standard - I generally tongued every pair, because I
couldn't reliably do every note, but I do think it sounds better tongued
than slurred, and I would expect a good clarinettist to be able to do
every one (although it may not be easy !).

Bernie.

ps Dan - if you come over here with your basset horns and 11 other
musicians I will gladly let you play this piece with me - and I won't
even charge you for the pleasure 8-)