Klarinet Archive - Posting 000268.txt from 2002/12

From: Bear Woodson <bearwoodson@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Gran Partita: 2 scorings?
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 17:09:43 -0500

Hello, Klarinet List.

Thank You for advice on the Bb Bass Clar-
inet Low Eb Key and rarity of the Bass Clarinets
in A! But as always, one answer leads to more
questions.

I have a question about the Scorings of the
Gran Partita. I was led to understand that a few
years after Mozart wrote it, that he made a
Second Version with a different scoring. I believe
that this is the scoring of one of the versions:

Mozart Serenade No. 10 in Bb Major
called the "Gran Partita"
for 13 Wind Instruments K. 361 / 370a
written and re-scored from 1781-84
(The 13th instrument can be either a
String Bass or a Contra Bassoon.)

I Largo: Molto Allegro 11:07
II Menuetto; Trio I, Trio II 10:37
III Adagio 6:33
IV Menuetto; Allegretto; Trio I, Trio II 5:56
V Romanza: Adagio; Allegretto; Adagio 7:33
VI Thema mit 6 Variationen: Andante 5:29
VII Finale: Molto Allegro 3:21
Marlboro Festival Recording
total playing time: 50' 36"

2 Oboes,
2 Bb Clarinets,
2 Basset Horns in F,
4 [French] Horns (in Eb, F, Bb, etc.),
2 Bassoons,
1 String Bass (or Contra Bassoon).

I believe that Mozart specified a String Bass
in both Versions, but Contra Bassoon Players
jump at the chance to play this work anyway.
(I sure would, if I were a Contra Bassoon
Player!)

I think someone once told me, or I read some-
where, that there is a Different Scoring with only
2 [French] Horns, but it retains the total of 13
Instruments. Is this my error, or does anyone
know about this? If so, what is the other scoring?
What instruments replace the 3rd and 4th Horns?

Bear Woodson
Composer in Tucson, Arizona, USA
"Bear Woodson" <bearwoodson@-----.net>
http://www.fluteconnection.net/comp/woodson.html
http://catalog.lib.asu.edu/search/a?SEARCH=McGale

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