Klarinet Archive - Posting 000620.txt from 1998/01

From: Jonathan Cohler <cohler@-----.net>
Subj: Re: K622 Trills
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 15:04:04 -0500

Michael Jones wrote:

>I have been listening to Mozart's Clarinet Concerto in A (K622). It has
>lots of trills marked in the score. I thought the trill was passe
>during the classical period - a remnant of the baroque period and
>considered corny or old fashioned. Did Mozart have a particular
>affection for it?
>
>Also, comparing the Shifirin recording to the Marcellus, I note that Mr.
>Shifirin begins his trills on the higher note (in baroque fashion), but
>not so with Mr Marcellus. Any comments? Ideas?
>
>Michael Jones

My research tells me that trills in classical music are to be done from the
upper note, unless the passage that approaches the trilled note arrives
from below, in which case it starts from the principal note.

The Shiffrin recording is, in general (not just the trills), much closer to
period performance practice (as we know it today) than the Marcellus
recording. Charlie Neidich's recording is even closer and better than the
Shiffrin's recording, which is based on his analysis and application of the
fragment in G.

Barenreiter has published a decent edition of the Concerto (I think it's
from the NMA) which takes into account the revelations of the fragment in
G, although I believe that even Barenreiter's and Charlie's versions still
have a few problems (vis a vis what notes should be played) in them. They
are definitely great places to start, however, in your exploration of the
piece. Much better than any of the other published editions I have ever
seen.

----------------
Jonathan Cohler
cohler@-----.net