Klarinet Archive - Posting 000618.txt from 1998/06

From: Oliver Seely <oliver@-----.EDU>
Subj: [kl] Re: New arrangement of K.V.A. 90 (was Brahms Quintet)
Date: Thu, 18 Jun 1998 23:17:54 -0400

Dan Leeson wrote, in part,
>
>I am curious to know who said that the Mozart quintet with piano
>is a favorable combination (not exactly what you said, but close)?
>Such an opinion needs something more than an assertion of quality,
>don't you think?
>
Dan's query gives me an opportunity to reflect on just why it was that
I enjoyed the new arrangement. First, the three string parts went to
a flute and a piano so the original blend of strings vanished. With
the clarinet part going to a flute and the basset horn part to a clarinet,
the piece became a rather triple mixed concerto because the first violin,
clarinet and basset horn parts make significant and very melodic
contributions to the piece as a whole. There was good conversation between
the three winds and excellent harmonic support to the immediate solo
instrument. I'll stop there because we ran through the piece only once.
I'd better not say anything about the viola's contribution to the melodic
line (now piano treble) because I just don't remember.

But while I'm on the subject, I also rearranged K. 581 for the same evening.
I already knew how that would work out with other instruments because
I've previously rearranged it for a clarinet quintet. I have to laugh
every time I think of the four clarinets which take the string parts
starting out in the first 8 or so measures before the solo clarinet
enters in the first movement. It is a bit like the Canadian Brass
playing a Rossini overture. The notes are all at the right pitch but
the timbre is not what one expects. In the case of K. 581 the clarinetist
who gets the cello part is not particularly happy if he or she is an
accomplished musician. Still, it is good for a divertissement from time
to time. As for the arrangement for two flutes, clarinet and piano,
the cello part is no longer a problem because that becomes piano left
hand. Mozart's genius allowed him to offer significant parts to most
of his instruments in chamber music works, so the piano again makes
significant contributions. In my rearrangement, I gave the first
and second violin parts to the flutes and I kept the clarinet part.
The blend was quite pleasant, but once again we played through it only
once.

But don't take my word for any of this. Download the MIDI files on
my Web page, use your sequencing software to change the instrument assignments
and play them. If your discover a PARTICULARLY appealing instrument
combination, please post it on this list. I'd LOVE to give it a whirl.

My Clarinet music Web page address for you newcomers is
http://chemistry.csudh.edu/oliver/clarmusi.htm

Oliver

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