Klarinet Archive - Posting 000280.txt from 1999/09

From: "David B. Niethamer" <dnietham@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Reger sonatas
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 1999 18:24:41 -0400

on 9/9/99 1:33 PM, Mark Charette wrote:

>Sonata No. 1 in Ab, Op. 49
>A large work but not as long as the other two sonatas. Range is not a
>problem, and the clarinet part is not difficult. The piano part requires a
>strong player. The difficulty with all of Reger works is the intricate
>rhythm which requires exact ensemble work.
>
To me, this is the most approachable of the Reger sonatas - not too long,
not too difficult (for the clarinetist anyway!)

>Sonata No. 2 in F#, Op. 49
>An extended sonata in an unusual key ... Use of the Clarinet in A results
>in a dark sonority.
>
Long ago on a planet far away, when LP's ruled the music scene, there was
a Musical Heritage Society recording of the two Op. 49 sonatas. Can't
remember the clarinetist/pianist, and my clarinet record collection is a
mess at present.

>Sonata in Bb, Op. 107
>This work is the longest and best sonata of Reger, monumental in clarinet
>repertoire. Phrases are generally long, requiring great endurance,
>especially in the slow movement. The ensemble is the greatest performance
>problem.

This sonata is **very** long - and I remember it being very obtuse,
musically. There was a wonderful recording from Marlboro of David Singer
and Rudolph Serkin, which I heard a long time ago. A search of something
like CDNow might turn it up on CD - just don't know.

There is also a very fine Quintet for clarinet and string quartet, Op.
146 (?), in A major. I've played it, and if you can find a quartet who
can play all that chromatic goop in tune, it's worth the effort.

David

David Niethamer
Principal Clarinet, Richmond Symphony
dnietham@-----.edu
http://members.aol.com/dbnclar1/

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