The Clarinet BBoard

Re: Mozart for B flat with piano

Author: Jack Kissinger  Date:   2003-08-19 16:48 Jerry, Just to throw another variable at you. As I recall there are two types of Bb version: (1) the clarinet part is transposed to B major (2) the piano part is transposed to Bb If you are buying the concerto to learn it but have no immediate performance prospects, then I would recommend you buy one of the A versions or a Bb version with the piano part transposed. If you are buying the concerto to learn it to perform in the near future with a pianist, then I would buy a Bb version with the piano part transposed. Then you won't have to relearn the piece in the future if you do get an A clarinet. If you are buying the concerto to perform with an orchestra on your Bb clarinet in the near future, then the version you need will be one with the clarinet part transposed (nasty key, though). However, in this last case, if it were me, I would try to borrow an A clarinet or try to convince the conductor to do a different concerto written for the Bb clarinet, perhaps Weber No. 1 or Spohr No. 1 or Krommer Op. 36 or Crusell Op. 5 (in F). Parts should be easy to come by (and not too expensive) for the Weber. Krommer, Spohr and Crusell might be more expensive. As far as which publisher's edition to purchase -- most of the serious clarinetists I have talked to (a limited set, however) recommend either Breitkopf or Barenreiter and say to avoid the Delecluse version (expensive with wrongheaded "cadenzas" by Ibert -- I don't think it's on your list in any case). For most people buying their first copy, however, I would say it's six in one, a half-dozen in the other. The differences are subtle. You won't be able to play the bassett clarinet notes in any case and any edition will give you hours of enjoyment. The International version is under $10, has a good sturdy cover for the piano part and has clear print and good pagination as I recall. The articulation is reasonable and, without an autograph score, nobody knows what Mozart actually wrote, anyway. (Purists, go ahead and flame me for my criteria. ) Best regards, jnk

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