 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2006-02-26 16:19
I've been trying to get together a good library of the early clarinet concertos (yes, I'm intimidated by the Copland).
Last week, I got a hold of a recording of Crusell's three concertos performed by Emma Johnson; and I love them. Ms. Johnson's playing feels appropriate to the music and powerful when it needs to be and very lyrical in the concertos' slow second movements. Her clarinet sounds like a CLARION (piccolo trumpet) in some of the brilliant passages, sweet in the mellow places.
Her performance aside, these compositions strike me as being very worthy parts of the clarinet repertoire. Dare I say that the melodies and the orchestrations (played by the English Chamber Orchestra under Gerard Schwarz) are (almost) comparable to those Mozart used in KV 622?
I'm particularly enfatuated with the second movement (Andante Pastorale) of the second concerto (Crusell's opus 5), and have ordered the music.
On the other hand, none of my colleagues seem to be aware of these bits of wonder.
In the archives, one correspondent said that Crusell was an actual clarinetist and that these pieces lie well on the instrument. What do you folks think of this music (including you Finns).
Bob Phillips
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Author: joannew
Date: 2006-02-26 18:01
I agree - the concerti are fantastic, as are his quartets for clarinet & strings. I have the Naxos recording of the concerti played by Ber Billman and Uppsala Kammarorkester, and I have had a chance to read through the quartets with some friends.
The Swedes also claim Crusell as their own - he was born in a region that was under Swedish rule at the time but is now part of Finland. He had no formal education (although was self-taught later in life, and eventually became extremely well educated), and learned to play by ear on a two-keyed birchwood clarinet!
Crusell was a member of Hovkapellet, the Swedish court ensemble in Stockholm for many years. He was elected to the Royal Swedish Academy of Music at the age of 26 in recognition of his talent as a clarinettist, before he became known as a composer. Later he travelled to Paris where he met Xavier Lefevre, and to Berlin where he studied breifly with Tausch. It was Crusell who first introduced the Mozart concerto to Sweden.
This is wonderful music, and it does indeed feel like it was written by a clarinettist, falling nicely under the fingers. Both the concerti and the quartets are second only to Mozart in my book, and by a fine margin!
Post Edited (2006-02-26 18:06)
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2006-02-26 18:07
Joann,
Thank you for the biography!
Did he learn the Mozart concerto before composing, say, his second?
Bob Phillips
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Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2006-02-26 19:08
Bob-
I love the Crusell concerti very much! My favorite would have to be number 2, movement 3. I've read somewhere that Crusell favored his 2nd concerto above the others and that he was very proud of this concerto.
For the most part, yes, they do fall well for the fingers. The only problem for me is having my fingers move fast enough for some of it! Sextuplets at 88 isn't doing well for me right now. Oh well, in time it will get there. Slow practice is the key.
Glad you discovered Crusell!
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Author: bill28099
Date: 2006-02-26 19:48
There are also 3 very good clarinet duets by Crusell which you should try. BTW all three of the Crusell Concertos have been recorded by Tony Pay on the Virgin Veritas label.
A great teacher gives you answers to questions
you don't even know you should ask.
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Author: crnichols
Date: 2006-02-26 20:21
Crusell is very good music. I also find it much less difficult to play well than the Spohr concerti, as it's less violinistic (i.e. fewer breathing difficulties, and the writing is more idiomatic for the clarinet) you could say. I have Tony Pay's recordings of the concerti with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Thea King's recording of the quartets with members of the Allegri Quartet , and they are all wonderful pieces.
I performed the first quartet a few years ago at my graduation recital at Boston Conservatory, and it was a great deal of fun(we should have rehearsed more though!). I particularly like the first quartet. In particular, the opening strikes me as special. It starts with a slow introduction, only the strings, and then after a brief pause, the clarinet makes it's first entrance, completely changing the character and texture, bringing us into the new tempo of the Allegro. The second movement is peaceful and pastoral, and a lively Minuet and Rondo follow. If you're looking for less often performed chamber repertoire for a recital, it really comes off well.
Since you mention early clarinet concerti, I have a few other suggestions that you may or may not have found. F.X. Pokorny wrote two nice concerti for clarinet that are fairly simple, also the Stamitz Concerti (both Johann and Karl, Johann's concerto always struck me as a more exciting piece), the Hoffmeister Concerto, and countless others. Also, with this endeavor, some good reading will help you. Lawson's book The Early Clarinet, and Albert Rice's The Clarinet in the Classical Period are great. Also, Charles Rosen's book The Classical Style is indispensable for understanding this period of music, although it only deals with the masters of the style, Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, it is very good knowledge to apply to much of the other music from this era.
Good luck!
Christopher Nichols
1st Infantry Division Band
Christopher Nichols, D.M.A.
Assistant Professor of Clarinet
University of Delaware
Post Edited (2006-02-26 20:29)
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Author: Gobboboy
Date: 2006-02-26 20:28
Have a listen to Karl Leister Playing these concerto's
BIS-CD-345 Lahti Symphony Orchestra with Osmo Vanska,
I think this is the best recording available, what a sound! and it captures this music perfectly.
G
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Author: mnorswor
Date: 2006-02-26 21:30
Check out Kari Kriikku's recording on the Ondine label. My favorite, personally.
--Michael
http;://www.michaelnorsworthy.com
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Author: OmarHo
Date: 2006-02-27 01:54
I also love the style that Antony Pay brings to these Concertos!
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2006-02-27 07:19
Crusell is wonderful. I agree with bill28099 that the duets are lovely. I find the music is rewarding to play but hard to play well.
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