Klarinet Archive - Posting 000160.txt from 2004/09

From: "Tereshchenko, Feodor" <Feodor.Tereshchenko@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Devienne sonatas for C Clarinet?
Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2004 13:56:59 -0400

There were many discussions recently about C clarinet. I decided to buy two
original compositions written for C clarinet - Francois Devienne sonatas
number 1 and 2.

First sonata is published by Editions Henry Lemoine, Paris and includes a
compact disc with recordings of Divienne first, second and third sonatas
played by Frank Amet , C clarinet and Hugues Leclere, piano. Bass part
realization is done by Jocelyn Sgard. The CD is lovely, perhaps a bit
amateurish. It is recorded on C clarinet and a period fortepiano. It is not
clear if clarinet is a period instrument or modern Buffer (there is a
Buffet-Crampon logo on the CD cover). The balance is poor, and bass part
cries for bassoon instead of piano.

Second sonata is published by Editions Musicales Transatlantiques, Paris,
realization of bass part by Laurence Boulay.

Now the problems:

First sonata's clarinet part is published in the original key of D minor,
but accompaniment is transposed a whole step down putting it in C minor.
This is done, according to description, to preserve original fingering while
making the sonata playable on Bb clarinet. Well, if your pianist can
sight-transpose his/her part up a step - you can play it on C clarinet as
written.

The same applies to the second sonata. Piano accompaniment is in the key of
Eb major, clarinet part is in written F major, sounding Eb major when played
on Bb clarinet.

Interestingly, Editions Henry Lemoine also publishes the second sonata but
claims it to be in Bb major (!), i.e. the original was in orchestral C
major! Lemoin's third sonata in Eb major is presumably corresponds to EMT's
second sonata. It is obvious that Devienne works await their own Koechel.

If your are lost - don't throw tomatoes at me. This is what happens when
publisher decide to fix things that are not broken...

The music itself is lovely and deserves to be played much more often.

Feodor Tereshchenko

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