 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: justwannaplay
Date: 2005-09-19 12:19
I've just finished a biography of the fascinating Chevalier de Saint-George, Joseph Boulogne. He was born in 1739 on the island of Guadeloupe - his father was an estate owner, his mother a slave from Senegal, Nanon. When Joseph was in his late teens, his father moved to Paris, where Joseph's education continued and he flourished in fencing and music. Besides becoming one of the 18th century's greatest swordsman, he was also a violin virtuoso and composer - with many concertos, symphony concertantes, quartets, operas, symphonies among his works. Imagine my surprise when reading about his clarinet concerto:
"Saint-George's name often alternated with that of Mozart on posters and announcements For example, on March 26, 1782, the Concert Spirituel performed his clarinet concerto for the second time. The next day the program announced one of Mozart's symphonies. The day after that, March 28, Joseph's name again appeared in large print, announcing his concerto for bassoon."
"Paradoxically, for a violinist and composer, one of Saint-George's most frequently played pieces at the Concert Spirituel was his clarinet concerto, which was in particular demand on religious holidays, like Christmas and Easter, and for the season openings in February. There was hardly a spring when it was not played.* (*Pierre Constant, Histoire du Concert spirituel, Paris, Société française de musicologie, Heugel, 1975)"
I raced to the 'List of his Works' only to find, alas, that his two clarinet concerti are LOST! What a shame! I have two Naxos CDs of his Violin concerti and they are very pretty indeed.
So sad not to have these examples of early clarinet music. How might they had influenced Mozart's own concerto? I'm reading Colin Lawson's little book on K622 and there is no mention of the Chevalier in his introductory pages on the clarinet in Paris. (And no mention on this board, as far as I could find, nor in the composers index.)
I recommend Alain Guédé's biography ('Monsieur de Saint-George, "The American"') for a compelling story of slavery, freedom, music and politics in pre- and post-revolutionary France.
Elizabeth
Post Edited (2005-09-19 12:21)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-09-19 22:42
Interesting, ?hard-to-find? info ?? I looked in both of Al Rice's books, the only possibility I found might be on pg 243 [notes] of Saint-Arroman, and its discussion of clefs. Luck, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: justwannaplay
Date: 2005-09-20 13:18
"How might they had influenced Mozart's own concerto?"
Hello Don, all,
Sorry, my question was more rhetorical - but certainly one could ask if there could have been any influence, in terms of key, instrument, etc..
There is a website:
http://www.saint-george.fr.st/
with an English section - see 'Listings' for his works - Clarinet Concerto 1 is G182 and Clarinet Concerto 2 is G198.
Elizabeth
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-09-20 20:54
Hi Eliz-JWP - I looked in our Groves, Vol. 16, pgs 391-2, a full page +[copied]on St George. He seems to have been principally in Paris, violinist, was an "intermediary" in a Count's commissioning of Haydn's Paris Symphonies, so very likely was somewhat acquainted with Mozart [and v-v?], being quite contemporary. Influence, perhaps? Much of his Chamber composing is "Lost", but he is said to have "lovely" music in some of his operas, worth investigating?? Read it, an unknown composer [to me], interesting, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
