Klarinet Archive - Posting 000618.txt from 2005/03

From: Don Yungkurth <chalumeau@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Mozart Question - Dan Leeson?
Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2005 16:02:35 -0500

I've always been a bit surprised by how seldom Mozart used clarinets in
his orchestral works, considering what he wrote for Stadler. He
supposedly said, "if only I had clarinets", in desperation, perhaps in a
letter to his father?

My guess is that he might well have used them more often if they (the
instruments and satisfactory players) were available. His symphony no.
39 is the only one I've ever played, so I looked up on the Kalmus web
site to see how many of his symphonies actually called for clarinets.
They list only nos. 31, 35, 39 and 40, as well no. 3, but that is only
"attributed".

Orchestras I've played with have done no. 40, K. 550, a number of times,
but never in a version with clarinets. One reference I have states
that, "Mozart revised K. 550, adding clarinets to the score".

Which version is generally played, with or without clarinets?

Is anything known of his reasons for the revision with clarinets?

Among his concertos, at least as available from Kalmus, only the piano
concertos nos. 22, 23 and 24 and the 3rd horn concerto use clarinets.

Any thoughts on how symphony 40 is usually played?

Don Yungkurth

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