Klarinet Archive - Posting 000274.txt from 1996/08

From: Dave Yee <DQY@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Weber's Intro. Theme & Var.
Date: Fri, 9 Aug 1996 16:01:42 -0400

To Patrick Kwan, who originally asked about this work, and others who are
interested, I hope you don't mind the following somewhat detailed account.

In 1941 an unsigned manuscript containing a work for clarinet and string
quartet was discovered and attributed to Weber. It was published as
"Introduction, Theme and Variations, Op. posth." Subsequent research
concluded that the work is not by Weber but by Josef Kueffner.

Delton Sizemore, in a posting of 96-08-08, has confused this work with
Weber's "Seven Variations on a Theme from Silvana, Op. 33" for clarinet and
piano. This work was written for Heinrich Baermann and the composer to
perform on tour. I share Mr. Sizemore's enthusiasm for the piece and also
recommend E. Simon's edition of this and other works for clarinet and piano,
published by Schirmer. Any clarinetist who has a pianist friend is
encouraged to investigate this satisfying duet. (If the pianist friend is
very good, don't forget Weber's "Grand Duo Concertant, Op. 48," also
available in Simon's Schirmer book!)

All three of the pieces mentioned above are available on CD-18004 by XLNT
Music, Inc. (38-62 240th St., Little Neck, NY 11363). The clarinetist is Jon
Manasse, and I am very happy with the performances. (I have no connection
with XLNT, but I did have a lot of trouble tracking down this label.)

As Patrick Kwan and Mark Greeley note, there is also an "Introduction, Theme
and Variations" for clarinet and orchestra, attributed to Rossini. My
understanding is that the piece is based on a theme by Rossini but that it
was not written by Rossini. In fact I don't know whether Rossini ever wrote
any clarinet pieces at all. (By clarinet pieces I mean chamber works where
one of the instruments is a clarinet or orchestral works with a clarinet
soloist; I mean to exclude orchestral works that include clarinet parts.)

Dave Yee

   
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