The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Newer Topic | Older Topic

An Evening of Quartets

Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2009-04-19 14:36

Last Thursday, four friends sat down and read three quartets for clarinet, violin, viola and cello. It was my sheet music, but I have never played these pieces. The violist suggested leaving the best composer for last:

Karl Stamitz, Quartet in Eb Op.8 No.4
Pleasant enough, but left an empty feeling. Several movements were getting interesting, when suddenly, we encountered tacked-on endings.

Bernhard Crusell, Quartet in Eb Op.2
Much better written and more enjoyable. A web search shows a number of recordings of Crusell Clarinet Quartets, including several complete sets.

Johann Nepomuk Hummel, Quartet (First edition, Musica Rara, 1958)
Now here is a winner. Longer than the others, and we were tired, but we kept playing. There was plenty to sink our teeth into and we were much rewarded. The second movement, "La Seccatura" (the nuisance?) makes sense once played through, but all the parts are all notated in different meters (2/4, 12/8, 3/4 & 6/8 !). Recorded by Charles Neidich among others.

Can anyone recommend other works for this ensemble?

Post Edited (2009-04-19 14:52)

Reply To Message

Re: An Evening of Quartets

Author: cigleris
Date: 2009-04-19 15:23

Krommer Quartets. He wrote a few if I remember. The other Crusell are good especially the one in C minor.

Peter Cigleris

Reply To Message

Re: An Evening of Quartets

Author: fantasmacantos
Date: 2009-04-19 15:45

The three Mozart quartets (arrenged by himself)

Penderecki

Reply To Message

Re: An Evening of Quartets

Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2009-04-19 20:33

I can get these on loan:

Hindemith, Paul: Variations
Hoffmeister, Franz Anton: Zwei Quartette, Bb Major
Krommer, Franz: Quartet in Bb Op. 83
Krommer, Franz: Quartet in D Op. 82
Krommer, Franz: Quartet in Eb Op. 69
Lefevre, Jean: Quartet in C Minor
Muller, Sigfrid Walter: Kammermusic No. 1, A Major
Krystof Penderecki, Quartett

Comments on these?

Reply To Message

Re: An Evening of Quartets

Author: John25
Date: 2009-04-19 21:02

There are three quartets by Haydn, arranged by Gambaro.
By the way, the Mozart quartets are not original - they were arranged by some later arranger (unknown).

Reply To Message

Avail. Forums | Threaded View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

The Clarinet Pages

For Sale
Put your ads for items you'd like to sell here. Free! Please, no more than two at a time - ads removed after two weeks.