Klarinet Archive - Posting 000441.txt from 2003/09
From: Dan Leeson <leeson0@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Alexander Krein's "Esquisses =?ISO-8859-1?Q?H=E9bra=EFques=2C=22?=
Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2003 13:53:48 -0400
Now here's a peculiar one!
As a result of my fascination with the Klocker recording of Alexander
Krein's "Esquisses Hébraïques," a kind member of this list sent me a
score of the work (at my request, to be sure) because I wanted to
prepare a set of performance parts to this thoroughly delightful piece
written for clarinet in B-flat and string quartet. It appears to be one
of the set of 9 works for clarinet and string quartet that Klocker
recovered from Rubin Academy of Music and Dance in Jerusalem following
its placement there ca. 1954 by the wife and daughter of Simeon Bellison
following his death. And it also appears that all the works on the
recording were commissioned by Bellison. Several of them are
magnificent, others less interesting. But as far as I was able to
determine, only the Esquisses Hébraïques was actually published, I
presume in parts and score, thought I have only the score. That
publication took place sometime after the work was written (1909) and
was catalogued by the Henry Watson Music Library of the Manchester
England Public Library on Dec. 24, 1918. The publisher is P. Jurgenson à
Moscou et Leipsic [Leipzig]. The score was at one time (and maybe still)
owned by the Arthur D. Walker Orchestral Score Library which may have
some relationship to the "N.C.L. Cutlier Library," whatever that is. I
think these are all British firms or organizations.
Now if you have been following the story of these works in the past few
weeks, much of this is not new to you. However, on receiving the score
of the Esquisses Hébraïques from our colleague in London, I began to
transcribe the first movement using Finale. It took me about three
weeks for the first movement because I am slow and also because I don't
use Finale frequently enough to retain what I have to relearn every time
I use it.
Having completed the first movement, I decided to listen to the
recording while following the score to see if I could discern any errors
that I might have made in the transcription. And that caused me to look
at the score of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th movements of the Esquisses to see
what will lay ahead of me in the next few months as I complete the
entire quintet.
AND THAT IS WHEN I GOT A SURPRISE!!
Following the 4th movement of the Esquisses, the published score in my
possession presents a completely different and UNRECORDED composition by
the same composer, Alexander Krein, entitled "Esquisses Hébraïques II,
Opus 13" (the recorded one by Klocker is Opus 12), a two movement
composition for the same clarinet and string quartet instrumentation.
I mention all of this for two reasons: (1) does anyone know of this
second quintet by Krein, and (2) how did Klocker miss this one for his
recording?
When and if I get done with the Krein Op. 12, I'll probably present a
set of parts to the clarinet library in Maryland. But if anyone wants a
set, I'll make one for them too provided that they really intend to play
the work. I don't make music available simply for people who simply save
it for future use. I have no idea what I will do with the second Krein
quintet.
--
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**Dan Leeson **
**leeson0@-----.net **
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