Work
Loading...
Musicology (work in progress):
The second of Krommer's concertos for two clarinets is musically more advanced than his first. The Concerto in E flat major, Op. 91, was written sometime around 1815, about the same period in which Weber wrote his clarinet works. It shares features with Weber's works, such as full use of the instrument's range, graceful ornamentation, and passages that range from legato to staccato to long, sustained trills. The opening Allegro is unusual in that the clarinets begin with the orchestra for a brief introduction of the main theme, which is followed by a developmental section for orchestra alone before the clarinets present the true exposition. The minor key, middle movement, Adagio, starts out sounding very much like a Classical period funeral march. That mood is broken when the clarinets enter and create a sweet duet. The final movement, like the last movement of Weber's Clarinet Concerto No. 2, is given the tempo marking Alla Polacca; however, Krommer does not use this to indicate a mazurka-like rondo movement. It is in 3/4 meter and is lively, containing more ornamentation than the other movements, but the melodies do not have that emphasis on the second beat that a mazurka would have. And although the first and second tutti sections are identical, there is really nothing else that would mark the movement as a rondo. Throughout the concerto, Krommer's writing for the two soloists is very much in the bel canto spirit, with their parts working together as dialogue and duet, demonstrating why Krommer's wind concertos are generally held to be his best works. -
Concerto for 2 clarinets & orchestra in Eb, Op.91Key: Eb
- Allegro
- Adagio
- Alla Polacca
- Allegro
- Adagio
- Alla Polacca
© All Music Guide




