Klarinet Archive - Posting 000543.txt from 1995/12

From: Jean-Marc Bonard <jean-marc.bonard@-----.CH>
Subj: C clarinet in Schubert's Octett & Telemann concerto
Date: Wed, 20 Dec 1995 13:49:49 -0500

Hi everyone !

I'm currently working with other amateur musicians on Schubert's Octett.
I enjoy playing it immensely, it is a fantastic work and quite gratifying
for the clarinet.

The guy who plays first violin had an excellent question that I'm unable
to answer: why does Schubert request a C clarinet in the 4th movement
(Theme & variations), whereas the rest of the piece is scored for Bb clarinet ?

I guess that a great majority of today's interprets transpose the movement,
but what was the practice back in Schubert's time ?

It is quite ackward to change clarinets at that spot, since one would
have to start a long movement with a cold instrument. On the other hand,
it is the only movement in (concert) C major on the work (save the Trio of the
Scherzo), and as I recall the clarinet part in the first movement of the
9th symphony (in C major) is also scored for C clarinets. Were the instruments
back then difficult to play in written D major, or did Schubert want
a different clarinet sound ?

Does anyone have a clue ?

By the way, I played about 5 years ago a
"Concerto for 2 chalumeaux" by Telemann, but I can't find the sheet music
anymore. Does anyone know the publisher, and the whereabouts of this
piece ?

Thanks in advance, and merry Christmas to everyone !

Jean-Marc Bonard

Jean-Marc Bonard
Institut de Micro- et Optoelectronique
Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Adresse: DP, EPFL, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
Telephone: +41(21)693 48 30 - Fax: +41(21)693 44 01
e-mail: jean-marc.bonard@-----.ch