Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Clarinet Quintet, K. 581, was written in 1789 for the clarinetistAnton Stadler. A clarinet quintet is a work for one clarinet and a string quartet. Although originally written for basset clarinet,[1] in contemporary performances it is usually played on a clarinet in A. It was Mozart's only completed clarinet quintet, and is one of the earliest and best-known works written especially for the instrument. It remains to this day one of the most admired of the composer's works. The quintet is sometimes referred to as the Stadler Quintet; Mozart so described it in a letter of April 1790.[2] Mozart also wrote a trio for clarinet, viola and piano for Stadler, the so-called Kegelstatt Trio, in 1786.
The composer indicated that the work was finished on 29 September 1789.[3] It received its premiere on 22 December of the same year, in one of the four annual Vienna performances of the Tonkünstler-Societät, an organization that existed to fund pensions for widows and orphans of musicians. The main item on the program was a cantata, Il natale d'Apollo, by Vincenzo Righini; Mozart's work was performed between the two halves of this work. The solo clarinet part was taken by Stadler, the first violin part by Joseph Zistler (1744–1794).[4]
Structure
The work consists of the following four movements[3] and, with the intended repetitions, has a duration of between 31 and 38 minutes, usually around 35 minutes.
Allegro,[5]A major, time = 4 4, 197 bars, where bars 1 to 79 and bars 80 to 197 are repeated.[3] This movement shows the typical sonata form[6] with exposition, development and recapitulation.
Menuetto with Trio I in A minor and Trio II in A major, time = 3 4, 31 + 41 + 51 bars. Here, too, the individual sections are repeated.[3]
Allegretto con variazioni, A major (Variation III in C major), time = 2 2. The presentation of the theme with 16 bars is followed by four variations with three times 16 and one time 20 bars. This is followed by two basically independent small movements: an Adagio with 21 bars and an Allegro with 36 bars. Here, too, repetition of the individual sections.[3]
First movement
1. Allegro
Vlad Weverbergh on a replica of the basset clarinet by Anton Stadler with the Terra Nova Collective (recorded in2017)
The first movement sets the mood for the entire piece. It has beautiful moving lines in all of the parts and in the second half there is a virtuoso run that is passed throughout the strings, based on material from the second section of the exposition.
Main theme
Second movement
2. Larghetto
The second movement opens with a six-bar transition in place of a central development section, which opposes a first section consisting mostly of a clarinet melody over muted strings against a second group of themes in which – as in the first movement – several upward runs of scales are given to the first violin, alternating with brief phrases of clarinet melody. These scales are given to the clarinet in the recapitulation (bar 51). In the last few bars of the movement, more chromatic than the rest, the scales turn into tripletarpeggios traded between the strings under the closing clarinet phrases.
Third movement
3. Menuetto
The third movement consists of a minuet and, unusually, two trios. The first trio is for the strings alone, with a theme that has a signature acciaccatura every few notes. The second trio is a clarinet solo over the strings, whereas in the minuet the roles are distributed more evenly.
Fourth movement
4. Allegretto con variazioni
The finale is in variation form, unexpectedly substituting for the more conventional rondo.[7] There are five variations.[6] The theme is in two repeated halves, with the clarinet joining in but only for a few of its bars. As often with Mozart, phrase structure is generally the same throughout the variations even if other qualities change – the theme consists of four four-bar phrases (Mozart is often more irregular in his phrasing than this), the first going harmonically from A to E, the second back from E to A, etc. and likewise with the variations.
The first of its variations gives the clarinet a new theme, in counterpoint with the theme of the variations divided amongst the quartet. The second alternates phrases for quartet only with phrases for full quintet, the latter answering the former. The third, in A minor, also begins without clarinet, with a viola melody – also with signature acciaccatura – but the clarinet joins in to finish. The major mode returns for the fourth variation, as does the main theme to the accompaniment of semiquaver virtuosity – given to the clarinet only in the first repeated half, first violin and clarinet in the second. There are four bars of dramatic interruption leading to a pause; the next variation is a lyrical Adagio. A transition brings us to an Allegro coda, containing much of a variation itself.
Theme
Analysis
There are a number of similarities between this quintet and Mozart's Clarinet Concerto. Both are in the key of A major and were written for the same soloist, Anton Stadler. Both pieces are written for the basset clarinet, which has an extended lower range. Also, the first theme of the first movement of each piece begins with a falling minor third. Both the second movements are in the same key (D major) and have similar characters and many similar phrases, although they have different tempo markings. There is a direct quotation of two bars in the second movement of the Quintet of the clarinet line in the Concerto's second movement.
Alfred Einstein[2] notes that while the clarinet "predominates as primus inter pares" (first amongst equals) this is nonetheless "chamber music work of the finest kind" and the roles are distributed more equally than they would be in a more concertante quintet for wind and strings.
Fragment second Clarinet Quintet
A score fragment exists for a second (though possibly written first) clarinet quintet in B-flat major, of which a complete exposition survives.[8] It is possible that Mozart completed the movement, as the score continues into the development section on the last surviving page.[8] This fragment is unlikely to be a sketch, as it bears no marks of correction. (However, Mozart re-used many of the thematic ideas in the fragment, in the same order, in the first movement of his string quartet K. 589.[9]) Nevertheless, the quintet K. 581 in A major is Mozart's sole surviving complete work for clarinet quintet.
Fragment of a Rondo in A major
The fragment in A, Anhang 88, for basset clarinet in A and string quartet may have originally been intended as the fourth movement of KV 581. The sparsely notated fragment of 111 bars shares the opening theme of Ferrando's aria, no. 24, from Così fan tutte. Several musicians have made completions including Otto Bach (1870), Robert Levin and Craig Hill (2022).
In popular culture
In "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen", the final episode of the American television series M*A*S*H, Charles Winchester learns that five Chinese soldiers who surrendered to him are musicians, one of whom plays a theme from the Clarinet Quintet, and Winchester proceeds to teach them the entire piece.[10]
References
Notes
^Oxford Music Online, "Basset clarinet", Nicholas Shackleton
^ abcdefQuintett in A KV 581: Score, Neue Mozart-Ausgabe
^Deutsch, Otto Erich (1965). Mozart: A Documentary Biography. Stanford: Stanford University Press. p. 359.
^The C. F. Peters Leipzig edition of the score marks the movement as Allegretto
^ abHoffer, Charles (2008). Cengage Advantage Books: Music Listening Today. Cengage Learning. pp. 135–137. ISBN978-0-495-56576-5. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
Einstein, Alfred. translated by Mendel, A. and Broder, N. Mozart, His Character, His Work. Dover Publications paperback 1972 republication of 1945 Oxford University Press edition. ISBN978-0-19-500732-9.
Warrack, John. "The Mellowness of Maturity." Liner notes for Mozart/Brahms, Clarinet Quintets, Harold Wright and Boston Symphony Chamber Players, Philips, 1993.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Quintet for Clarinet and Strings, K. 581 (Mozart).
Quintett in A KV 581: Score and critical report (in German) in the Neue Mozart-Ausgabe
Video, 1st movement on YouTube, 2nd movement; 3rd movement, 4th movement – Video of the above recording with Vlad Weverbergh and the Terra Nova Collective
clarinet, quintet, mozart, wolfgang, amadeus, mozart, clarinet, quintet, written, 1789, clarinetist, anton, stadler, clarinet, quintet, work, clarinet, string, quartet, although, originally, written, basset, clarinet, contemporary, performances, usually, playe. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart s Clarinet Quintet K 581 was written in 1789 for the clarinetist Anton Stadler A clarinet quintet is a work for one clarinet and a string quartet Although originally written for basset clarinet 1 in contemporary performances it is usually played on a clarinet in A It was Mozart s only completed clarinet quintet and is one of the earliest and best known works written especially for the instrument It remains to this day one of the most admired of the composer s works The quintet is sometimes referred to as the Stadler Quintet Mozart so described it in a letter of April 1790 2 Mozart also wrote a trio for clarinet viola and piano for Stadler the so called Kegelstatt Trio in 1786 Clarinet Quintetby Wolfgang Amadeus MozartScore with historical basset clarinetKeyA majorCatalogueK 581DedicationAnton StadlerDuration35 minutesMovementsAllegroLarghettoMenuetto Trio I Trio IIAllegretto con variazioniScoring Basset clarinet in Aviolin Iviolin IIviolacelloPremiereDateDecember 22 1789LocationTonkunstler Societat in ViennaPerformersAnton Stadler clarinet Joseph Zistler violin Mozart viola others unknown Contents 1 Composition and premiere 2 Structure 2 1 First movement 2 2 Second movement 2 3 Third movement 2 4 Fourth movement 3 Analysis 4 Fragment second Clarinet Quintet 5 Fragment of a Rondo in A major 6 In popular culture 7 References 8 External linksComposition and premiere EditThe composer indicated that the work was finished on 29 September 1789 3 It received its premiere on 22 December of the same year in one of the four annual Vienna performances of the Tonkunstler Societat an organization that existed to fund pensions for widows and orphans of musicians The main item on the program was a cantata Il natale d Apollo by Vincenzo Righini Mozart s work was performed between the two halves of this work The solo clarinet part was taken by Stadler the first violin part by Joseph Zistler 1744 1794 4 Structure EditThe work consists of the following four movements 3 and with the intended repetitions has a duration of between 31 and 38 minutes usually around 35 minutes Allegro 5 A major time 44 197 bars where bars 1 to 79 and bars 80 to 197 are repeated 3 This movement shows the typical sonata form 6 with exposition development and recapitulation Larghetto D major time 34 85 bars 3 Menuetto with Trio I in A minor and Trio II in A major time 34 31 41 51 bars Here too the individual sections are repeated 3 Allegretto con variazioni A major Variation III in C major time 22 The presentation of the theme with 16 bars is followed by four variations with three times 16 and one time 20 bars This is followed by two basically independent small movements an Adagio with 21 bars and an Allegro with 36 bars Here too repetition of the individual sections 3 First movement Edit 1 Allegro source Vlad Weverbergh on a replica of the basset clarinet by Anton Stadler with the Terra Nova Collective recorded in2017 Problems playing this file See media help The first movement sets the mood for the entire piece It has beautiful moving lines in all of the parts and in the second half there is a virtuoso run that is passed throughout the strings based on material from the second section of the exposition source Audio playback is not supported in your browser You can download the audio file Main themeSecond movement Edit 2 Larghetto source The second movement opens with a six bar transition in place of a central development section which opposes a first section consisting mostly of a clarinet melody over muted strings against a second group of themes in which as in the first movement several upward runs of scales are given to the first violin alternating with brief phrases of clarinet melody These scales are given to the clarinet in the recapitulation bar 51 In the last few bars of the movement more chromatic than the rest the scales turn into triplet arpeggios traded between the strings under the closing clarinet phrases Third movement Edit 3 Menuetto source The third movement consists of a minuet and unusually two trios The first trio is for the strings alone with a theme that has a signature acciaccatura every few notes The second trio is a clarinet solo over the strings whereas in the minuet the roles are distributed more evenly Fourth movement Edit 4 Allegretto con variazioni source The finale is in variation form unexpectedly substituting for the more conventional rondo 7 There are five variations 6 The theme is in two repeated halves with the clarinet joining in but only for a few of its bars As often with Mozart phrase structure is generally the same throughout the variations even if other qualities change the theme consists of four four bar phrases Mozart is often more irregular in his phrasing than this the first going harmonically from A to E the second back from E to A etc and likewise with the variations The first of its variations gives the clarinet a new theme in counterpoint with the theme of the variations divided amongst the quartet The second alternates phrases for quartet only with phrases for full quintet the latter answering the former The third in A minor also begins without clarinet with a viola melody also with signature acciaccatura but the clarinet joins in to finish The major mode returns for the fourth variation as does the main theme to the accompaniment of semiquaver virtuosity given to the clarinet only in the first repeated half first violin and clarinet in the second There are four bars of dramatic interruption leading to a pause the next variation is a lyrical Adagio A transition brings us to an Allegro coda containing much of a variation itself source Audio playback is not supported in your browser You can download the audio file ThemeAnalysis EditThere are a number of similarities between this quintet and Mozart s Clarinet Concerto Both are in the key of A major and were written for the same soloist Anton Stadler Both pieces are written for the basset clarinet which has an extended lower range Also the first theme of the first movement of each piece begins with a falling minor third Both the second movements are in the same key D major and have similar characters and many similar phrases although they have different tempo markings There is a direct quotation of two bars in the second movement of the Quintet of the clarinet line in the Concerto s second movement Alfred Einstein 2 notes that while the clarinet predominates as primus inter pares first amongst equals this is nonetheless chamber music work of the finest kind and the roles are distributed more equally than they would be in a more concertante quintet for wind and strings Fragment second Clarinet Quintet EditA score fragment exists for a second though possibly written first clarinet quintet in B flat major of which a complete exposition survives 8 It is possible that Mozart completed the movement as the score continues into the development section on the last surviving page 8 This fragment is unlikely to be a sketch as it bears no marks of correction However Mozart re used many of the thematic ideas in the fragment in the same order in the first movement of his string quartet K 589 9 Nevertheless the quintet K 581 in A major is Mozart s sole surviving complete work for clarinet quintet Fragment of a Rondo in A major EditThe fragment in A Anhang 88 for basset clarinet in A and string quartet may have originally been intended as the fourth movement of KV 581 The sparsely notated fragment of 111 bars shares the opening theme of Ferrando s aria no 24 from Cosi fan tutte Several musicians have made completions including Otto Bach 1870 Robert Levin and Craig Hill 2022 In popular culture EditIn Goodbye Farewell and Amen the final episode of the American television series M A S H Charles Winchester learns that five Chinese soldiers who surrendered to him are musicians one of whom plays a theme from the Clarinet Quintet and Winchester proceeds to teach them the entire piece 10 References EditNotes Oxford Music Online Basset clarinet Nicholas Shackleton a b Einstein 1945 p 194 a b c d e f Quintett in A KV 581 Score Neue Mozart Ausgabe Deutsch Otto Erich 1965 Mozart A Documentary Biography Stanford Stanford University Press p 359 The C F Peters Leipzig edition of the score marks the movement as Allegretto a b Hoffer Charles 2008 Cengage Advantage Books Music Listening Today Cengage Learning pp 135 137 ISBN 978 0 495 56576 5 Retrieved 29 January 2019 Warrack p 3 a b Quintettsatz B Dur KV Anh 91 516c Kammermusikfuhrer in German Mainz Villa Musica Rheinland Pfalz Retrieved 29 January 2019 Quintet Fragment KV 516c 11 November 2020 Stephen M Klugewicz March 15 2014 Doctor Winchester Mozart and the Devil The Imaginative Conservative Sources Einstein Alfred translated by Mendel A and Broder N Mozart His Character His Work Dover Publications paperback 1972 republication of 1945 Oxford University Press edition ISBN 978 0 19 500732 9 Warrack John The Mellowness of Maturity Liner notes for Mozart Brahms Clarinet Quintets Harold Wright and Boston Symphony Chamber Players Philips 1993 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Quintet for Clarinet and Strings K 581 Mozart Quintett in A KV 581 Score and critical report in German in the Neue Mozart Ausgabe Clarinet Quintet in A major Scores at the International Music Score Library Project Clarinet Quintet Mozart at the Mutopia Project Video 1st movement on YouTube 2nd movement 3rd movement 4th movement Video of the above recording with Vlad Weverbergh and the Terra Nova Collective Portal Classical music Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Clarinet Quintet Mozart amp oldid 1122839775, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
