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Good Chamber Music Combinations

Author: kfrank1
Date: 2007-08-09 22:51

I came across an article showing good chamber music combinations for flute here:
http://www.trevor-wye.com/page9.html

In a similar vein what are the good or typical Chamber Music combinations involving clarinet?

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Re: Good Chamber Music Combinations

Author: grifffinity
Date: 2007-08-10 00:21

Most Common:
Clarinet quartet (3 Bb and 1 Bass)
Trios:
Pn/Vn/Cl
Pn/Cl/VC
PN/Cl/Bsn

Quintets:
Strg Quartet with CL
Wind Quintet

Of course there are endless combinations: Pn/Cl/Vn/VC (Hindemith, Messiaen), Pn/Cl/Viola, various Pn and wind combo's by several composers.

I have to disagree with the article - I personally find that a uniform sound is the sign of a tight wind quintet and I personally like that goal of uniformity when working with that combination. My personal favorite clarinet chamber grouping is Pn/Cl/VC - Brahms tops the list of works, but there is a lot of good literature for that combo as well as easily adaptable literature for that combo.

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Re: Good Chamber Music Combinations

Author: kfrank1
Date: 2007-08-10 00:35

Ok, thanks.

Would clarinet & piano be even more common than the above?

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Re: Good Chamber Music Combinations

Author: grifffinity
Date: 2007-08-10 03:23

kfrank1 wrote:

> Ok, thanks.
>
> Would clarinet & piano be even more common than the above?

Well, yes - a clarinet & piano work can be considered chamber music. Certainly, the Brahms Clarinet Sonata's I would consider chamber music, as both parts are dependant upon the other for the works structure. For me, it depends on how a composition for piano and clarinet is written. Some piano parts are nothing substantial with hardly any interplay with the clarinet and in my book, that is what I consider an accompaniment.

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Re: Good Chamber Music Combinations

Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2007-08-10 15:30

I want to amplify on grifffinity's comment: that some music for piano and clarinet is wonderful, but most is not. I've become antagonistic toward anything that involves a piano "reduction" --where an extensive group of supporting musical lines have been condensed into a piano accompaniment.

To me, the good stuff comes when the composer had the skill and insight to interweave the piano and clarinet --making a true duo.

Masterworks for Clarinet and Piano, published by G. Schrimer, Inc. is a real bargain in this light --containing works by von Weber, Schumann, Brahms, Mendelssohn. There is enough subtlety there to keep you busy for years.

If you don't just want the pianist to be a "stooge," find the good stuff.

There are many wonderful pieces for larger groups with piano; in addition to the Brahms Op. 115 for Cl/Pia/Cello, the Mozart Kv 498 for Cl/pia/Viola comes to mind.

Bob Phillips

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