 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Brian Peterson
Date: 2001-05-07 19:18
The composition data base indicates that Max Bruch's 8 Pieces is written for both clarinet, piano, viola and clarinet, piano, cello. Is viola or cello the orginal instrumentation? Just wondering.
Thanks
Brian Peterson
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Author: beejay
Date: 2001-05-07 22:32
Are you referring to the eight pieces on Swedish themes? They are extremely beautiful. Bruch's son was a clarinetist, so they may have been written originally for that instrument, but I admit I am not sure on this point. They do, however, sound and feel right for the clarinet.
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Author: Brian Peterson
Date: 2001-05-08 01:05
BeeJay,
I would think that the eight pieces on Swedish themes is the ticket.
Looking at my original post, I fear my question may not have been very clear. I likewise heard the piece on the radio about a year ago and thought it it a lovely work. I seem to recall that it was played by a clarinet, viola and piano. The data base on our wonderful website indicates that there is also a version for clarinet, cello and piano. As I've been fortunate enough to find a capable cellist and pianist willing to work with a lout like me, I'd like to pursue the piece. Mostly out of curiousity, I'd like to know if our cellist would be working off a transcription or the real deal.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Happy clarineting.
Brian
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Author: Jonathan
Date: 2001-05-08 11:14
Dear Brian,
On my copy of the 8 Pieces by Bruch it states that it is for Clarinet, Viola and Piano OR Violin, Cello, and Piano. This edition is printed by N. Simrock - Musikverlag and from the front cover would thus presume that it was originally scored for the Viola and not Cello, as the third voice. Additionally, on the score (piano part) it only says Clarinet in A or B and Bratsche [viola]. I would have to agree that they are absolutely sublimely beautiful and I hope that when you perform them you play all of them as I've never heard a complete performance of all 8 at the one time.
Hope this is what you were after,
Jonathan
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-05-08 18:19
Bruch's 8 Pieces were definitely written for clarinet, viola and piano. As beejay says, Bruch's son was a clarinetist, and the pieces were written for him. To boost sales, the publisher insisted that alternative instrumentations be provided. Maybe Bruch wanted that too.
The music is incredibly rich. Listening to all 8 pieces at once is like trying to eat a whole slab of chocolate fudge. On concerts, the pieces are seldom done as a whole -- 2 or 3 is plenty -- 4 at the most. They're really independent of each other, so there is little benefit from doing them all in a row.
It's not easy to get the right feel. The pieces don't work if you emphasize virtuosity, but if you go slow they bog down terribly. They need an autumnal glow, but without thickness and with good movement.
There have been a couple of fine recordings with clarinet, cello and piano, with the cellist playing at the same pitch as a viola would play. You need a cellist who's really comfortable in the stratosphere.
The Verdehr Trio (clarinet, violin and piano) has recorded all the pieces, over several albums, but I think that's a transcription rather than one of the original possibilities.
My favorite recording is of a live performance by Harold Wright, Boris Kroyt (the violist of the Budapest Quartet) and, I think, Leonid Hambro. It was on a Turnabout LP. I don't know whether it's been reissued on CD, but it's worth searching out in the used record bins.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Brian Peterson
Date: 2001-05-08 20:30
Ken,
So you're saying that one normally doesn't play all the pieces together? Do some go together and others not? Maybe we ought to just get going on them and see which way the wind blows.
Thanks for the info.
Brian
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-05-09 18:13
Brian -
The Bruch pieces have various tempos and characters. You simply pick out the ones you like or that seem to go together. I don't know of any particular combinations. All I was saying is that playing all 8 seems to me to be too much of the same thing for a recital.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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