Klarinet Archive - Posting 000272.txt from 2002/12

From: Daniel Leeson <leeson0@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Gran Partita: 2 scorings?
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 19:16:54 -0500

There is absolutely no evidence that Mozart rearranged the Gran Partitta
to include a contrabassoon. The only manuscript known to exist now lies
in the Library of Congress and has been issued in facsimile by them
around 20 years ago.

In that manuscript the bass part is explicitly specified as "Kontrabass"
and not "Kontrafaggott." Furthermore, there are two movement in which
both "pizzicato" and "arco" exist in Mozart's hand.

There is an arrangement for a wind octet but, despite a study by Bastaan
Blomhert of the Netherlands (whose paper on the subject may be found in
the 1991 Mozart Jahrbuch), the arrangement is almost certainly not by
Mozart, and for very objective reasons.

The Gran Partitta itself uses 13 instruments in six of the seven
movements and 11 instruments (only two horns instead of four) in one
movement.

The subtitle of "Gran Partitta" may be thought to be an error in
spelling on my part, but that is what it says on the manuscript even
though "Partitta" is a misspelling of "Partita." In any case, it is not
in Mozart's hand, but rather in red crayon. I don't think the alternate
title serves any purpose, but if it is going to be used, I suggest that
it be spelled the way it is in the manuscript.

The alternative numbering system of "Serenade Number 10" dates from 1875
and is also about as accurate as Symphony Number 41 is for the Jupiter.

You are correct that bassoonists will jump at the chance to play it and
offer as evidence that "it sounds better" with contrabassoons. I'm not
smart enough to evaluate that. I think it sounds better with tenor saxes.

Dan Leeson

Bear Woodson wrote:
> 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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**Dan Leeson **
**leeson0@-----.net **
***************************

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