 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: theclarinetist
Date: 2004-06-11 22:19
Hey everyone!
Today I was at the sheet music store and bought a copy of t he Mozart Trio for clarinet/viola/piano Kv. 498. I was very suprised to see that my copy is for Bb clarinet. I assumed that since the concerto and quintet were for A clarinet, the trio would be too. I got the Bärenreiter Urtext edition, so I'm assuming it is accurate.
I have a very limited knowledge of the musical instruments of that time period, but I didn't even think Bb clarinet (as we know it today) existed back then. Anyway, just curious about it... Wondering if anyone could explain why this piece is for Bb while the concerto/quintet are for A (of course, I'm assuming there is a specific reason - he could have just felt like making it that way!). Thanks
DH
theclarinetist@yahoo.com
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2004-06-11 23:01
DH -
Yes, the Mozart Trio calls for Bb clarinet, which has existed from the beginning. The trio is in Eb, which lets the Bb clarinet play in F. To play it on the A clarinet, you would be in the key of F# -- not easy on the modern instrument, and as a practical matter impossible on the 5-key instrument used in Mozart's time.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: larryb
Date: 2004-06-12 12:50
Mozart wrote much for Bb clarinet (in addtion to A, C, F bassethorn and G bassethorn) - just not the famous solo pieces (aside from the Trio)
All his wind serenades (2 octets and Gran Partita) call for Bb clarinet.
His Operas call for Bb/A/C clarinet - instrument pitch depending on the key/mood of the aria or section (overture, finale, transition)..
The Notturni call for A or Bb clarinet, as well as F and G bassethorns
Symphonies with clarinet parts are Bb or A.
I wonder if anyone has done a statistical analysis to determine the percentage of different clarinet pithces in all of mozart's known works to establish which one he used most? A good research project for a student out there.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-06-12 21:08
In "Clarinet Sessions" there is a beautiful Mozart Adagio K??? trio [orch?] for Bb's, well worth investilgating, IMHO, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: John25
Date: 2004-06-12 21:18
Just to ad to the list given by larryb - Mozart also wrote for clarinet in B natural in his operas.
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2004-06-13 10:49
"Mozart also wrote for clarinet in B natural in his operas"
I've read that too. Anybody know which operas?
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Author: Alphie
Date: 2004-06-14 00:13
Cosi fan Tutte. I don't remember which numbers in the score. The pieces are normally published for A clarinet.
Post Edited (2004-06-14 21:34)
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-06-14 00:35
Clarinets in B-natural appear in both Così fan tutte and Idomeneo...GBK
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-06-14 18:18
Ken ...
I'm fairly certain that there is only one instance in Così fan tutte which calls for a pair of clarinets in B and that is in the aria "Per pieta, ben mio perdona" (#25). Although key is probably not as much a consideration as sound, the aria is in concert E major, which would put the clarinets in B in the written key of F. (Mozart obviously could have originally called for A clarinets, which would have put them in their written key of G, so one has to assume that sound was the determining factor). Contemporary performances and orchestral scores (ex: Dover) customarily use the A clarinet.
Coincidentally the other 2 times that the B clarinet is called for, in Idomeneo, the concert key signature is also E major ...GBK
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Author: Alphie
Date: 2004-06-14 21:33
GBK, I think B-clarinets are also used in #10 "Soave sia el vento". This means written F-major instead of G-major for A clarinet just like in "Per pietà". I can't verify this from any sources that I know or remember but from having played "Soave" on both 5-keyed A and B-natural clarinets my impression is that it sounds much better in written F-major since that is a clearer sounding key for the 5-keyed instrument. Also, Mozart gennerally avoided to write in written #-keys for clarinet. Basically only if the music accidentaly modulates into one like the 2nd theme of the concerto. At least, at the moment I can't remember any more examples.
I've always used B-natural clarinets in both pieces from Cosi.
Alphie
Post Edited (2004-06-14 22:01)
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-06-14 22:18
Alphie wrote:
> Also, Mozart
> gennerally avoided to write in written #-keys for clarinet.
> Basically only if the music accidentaly modulates into one. At
> least, at the moment I can't remember one single example.
I can't either.
Generally, Mozart tended to keep his clarinets playing in their written keys of C, F or G.
There are a few noteable exceptions such as a Bb clarinet playing in its written key of Bb in Symphony #39, and the Bb clarinet playing in its written key of Eb at the end of the Gran Partita (or to make Dan Leeson happy: Gran Partitta).
The most daring key signature that Mozart put clarinets in, is in the Kyrie in d minor, when the A clarinet plays briefly in its written key of Ab major...GBK
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