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Did Rossini really compose his Introduction, Theme and Variations?
Longtime readers of this blog know that there are countless unsolved mysteries of clarinet history, and I’m fascinated by these! Today, we’re delving into a work which I consider to be one of the top 50 standard works for clarinet – Rossini’s Introduction, Theme and Variations! Background Italian composer Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868) composed Introduction, Theme and Variations around 1819, and it was dedicated to clarinetist Allesandro Abate. Abate was a clarinet professor in Naples, Italy, and he performed as principal clarinet at the Teatro La Munizione in Messina from 1815-1816. The Introduction features lyrically florid clarinet passages, demonstrating the instrument’s expressive capabilities. The music is from Rossini’s opera Mosè in Egitto…
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Clarinet history: Who invented the metal ligature?
When I’m not practicing the clarinet, one of my favorite things to do is delve into the vast world of clarinet history. There are so many subjects and areas to explore, one of which is the clarinet’s development to its modern form. Today, clarinetists probably take several things for granted. Reeds, although quite a can of worms, can be mass-produced and are easily available. Mouthpieces are varied and plentiful, and you can even work with mouthpiece makers for customized setups. Ligatures also come in several materials and variations. Most of us likely started out with a simple metal ligature – something we probably haven’t paid much attention to outside of…
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Did Weber write a third clarinet concerto?
Longtime readers of this blog know that there are several unsolved mysteries throughout clarinet history. One that I find particularly interesting is the possibility of Weber’s third clarinet concerto. Most clarinetists are undoubtedly familiar with the clarinet works of Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826). His famous Concertino, Op. 26, Concerto No. 1 in f minor, Op. 73, and Concerto No. 2 in E-flat Major, Op. 74 were written in 1811 for German clarinet virtuoso Heinrich Baermann (1784-1847).These works have become standard clarinet repertoire and demonstrate the clarinet’s lyrical and technical capabilities. If only Weber had composed another clarinet concerto… According to Weber’s diary, he was working on a clarinet concerto…
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The Curious Clarinets of Benjamin Franklin
By now, you should know that there are several unsolved mysteries of clarinet history. One that has particularly intrigued me is a musical glitch in the matrix, involving none other than Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) was an American multi-hyphenate – he was a diplomat, writer, scientist, and more. (He also had some witty quotes and one-liners!) Franklin wrote his autobiography (which he called his memoirs) between 1771 and 1790, the year of his death. Here’s a quote from his memoirs (page 194): While at Bethlehem, I inquir’d a little into the practice of the Moravians: some of them had accompaniedme, and all were very kind to me. I found…
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Clarinet Curiosities: Unusual Systems and Inventions
The pioneering and curious spirit of clarinetists and manufacturers has led to the development of unique and innovative instruments throughout clarinet history. Here are a few clarinet curiosities, including unusual clarinets, clarinet systems, and inventions to intrigue you: Clarinet-adjacent instruments These instruments might not technically fall under the clarinet family tree, but I wanted to share some distant cousins of the clarinet family. Here are some other websites you might find interesting to learn more about clarinet systems and inventions: I hope you enjoyed this foray into the curious world of clarinet history! What other unusual clarinets do you know? Leave a comment below!
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Clarinet HERstory: Eileen Tranmer
Clarinet HERstory is a new retrospective series on Jenny Clarinet which celebrates women throughout clarinet history (aka HERstory). Do you have a recommendation for a clarinetist to feature in an upcoming post in Clarinet HERstory? Contact me here. English musician Eileen Betsy Tranmer (1910-1983) was an accomplished clarinetist and chess player who held the title of Woman International Master. Eileen was a leading figure in the British chess scene during the mid-20th century, and she won the British Women’s Chess Championship four times. Additionally, she won and shared 5th-7th place in the Women’s World Chess Championship in Moscow in 1950. In 1952, she was ranked 7th at the Women’s World…
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Clarinet HERstory: Caroline Schleicher-Krähmer
Clarinet HERstory is a new retrospective series on Jenny Clarinet which celebrates women throughout clarinet history (aka HERstory). Do you have a recommendation for a clarinetist to feature in an upcoming post in Clarinet HERstory? Contact me here. Caroline Krähmer (née Schleicher, 1794-c. 1873) was an international soloist and toured all throughout Europe, performing works by Weber, Tausch, Mozart, and more. Born to musical parents who also performed concert tours, Caroline and her two surviving sisters (there were 13 children in total, only 3 of which survived infancy) were taught violin, singing, piano, and clarinet. Caroline began studying the clarinet with her father at the age of nine. Being a part…
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Friday Favorites: Clarinet History Books
Happy Friday! I love learning about the clarinet’s history, and there are so many wonderful resources available. Here are a few of my favorite clarinet history books (please note that some of these may be out of print or difficult to find. I recommend checking out nearby university libraries or using interlibrary loans): Clarinet Virtuosi of the Past by Pamela Weston – Perhaps my favorite book on this list, this book examines famous clarinetists of the past, including Anton Stadler, Heinrich Baermann, and Richard Mühlfeld. Pamela Weston is a brilliant writer and scholar, and she wrote other clarinet books, including The Clarinet Teacher’s Companion, More Clarinet Virtuosi of the Past, Clarinet Virtuosi of Today, and Yesterday’s Clarinettists:…
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The Evolution of the Clarinet Choir
The clarinet is #blessed to have so many members of its family, and amazing things happen when these instruments are combined together to create a clarinet choir. Despite the wide variety of clarinets in different keys throughout its history, the clarinet choir as we know it is a relatively new concept. Let’s start from the beginning. The clarinet was developed around the turn of the 18th century by Johann Christoph Denner in Nuremberg, Germany, and it quickly gained traction as both an ensemble and solo instrument. Early clarinets had very few keys, and as a result were not able to access all key signatures. For example, in order to perform…
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Clarinet cryptograms: Are there hidden messages in our repertoire?
Last week, I began exploring the history of musical espionage (as one does) and found myself delving into the world of musical cryptography. Musical cryptography is using the musical alphabet, notation, solfège, and other elements to encrypt messages into music. Bach, Shostakovich, and many other composers throughout history have used musical cryptography to spell their names. Bach used B-flat-A-C-B natural (the German H) to spell his name, and Shostakovich used D-E-flat-C-B natural to spell DSCH (again, using German H) for Dmitri Schostakowitsch. However, some composers used musical cryptography to notate the names of their beloved or short messages and quotations to share with those who were able to crack the…
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