Klarinet Archive - Posting 000131.txt from 1999/01

From: Fred Jacobowitz <fredj@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Beethoven Trios
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1999 11:47:29 -0500

In the Opus 11 Trio, it was originally written for CLARINET!!! It was
standard practice to include parts for the traditional piano trio
instumentation so Beethoven wrote a violin part also. However, it is
definitely a clarinet work. The opus 38 trio is an arrangement of the
Septet. Therefore, it has a clatinet part. However, I don't know if
Beethoven did the arrangement (I think he did) or whether there is a
violin, 'cello, piano version.
As for the balance issue, don't forget that it was written for
essentially a light-wood, 5-keyed instrument which played quite quietly,
and with a very light, sweet tone quality (kind of like an ultra-light
old Leblanc sound).
The balance was not so much an issue then. If you follow the development
of the three instruments, you'll find that both the piano and clarinet
have made HUGE strides in volume of sound produced, while people are
STILL playing on 1700-1800's celli, and that cello construction has
changed little in the intervening time. So now the balance problems are
greater. The only solution is to learn how to play softly and
delicately like a violinist and not fall into the trap so many
clarinetists do of being a loud, aggressive, orchestra-oriented wind
player. It can be done. If you listen to Charlie Neidich's recording of
the Brahms Clarinet Quintet, you'll hear that kind of playing.

Fred Jacobowitz
Clarinet/Sax Instructor, Peabody Preparatory

On Mon, 4 Jan 1999 Dahs434567@-----.com wrote:

> Thank you Mr. Shaw for your help on Op. 11 (3rd Mov't). To continue this
> train of thought I pose another question: Is the clarinet designated as a
> substitute for the violin in any of the other Beethoven trios? Or, has any
> clarinetist taken the liberty of rewriting the violin part and performed it
> this way? Somehow I remember one of the other trios (Op. 38) as being one of
> these, but I may be confused.
> If there are such transcriptions, do they work? - I mean, does it sound
> balanced? Its been my experience that clarinet easily masks the cello sound in
> the shared passages of Op. 11. This was not as serious a problem when I
> played, for instance, the Brahms trio.
> Sincerely,
>
> David Highsmith
>
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