Weber is fairly well-known for his chamber music for clarinet, having produced works like the Quintet for Clarinet and Strings, Op. 34; the Grand Duo Concertant, Op. 48; and Seven Variations, Op. 33, both for clarinet and piano. The Introduction, Theme and Variations here, which suspiciously carries an Op. Posth. tag, is a piece whose authorship has been called into question. For years it had been attributed to Weber, but later scholarship suggests it might be the work of Joseph Küffner. Naturally, its date of composition is also uncertain. In any event, the piece is a worthwhile composition that fanciers of clarinet music should find quite appealing. The work is short, lasting about nine or ten minutes, with the "Introduction" presenting a lovely Mozartean dreaminess in the clarinet melody and rather simple string accompaniment. In the main section, the clarinet plays a chipper, innocent theme several times, after which the strings are finally given a chance to step to the fore. The variations are attractive, the second an especially perky creation, wherein the first violin is given a charming solo. Most of the music is playful or dreamy and also somewhat childlike in its utter obliviousness to the world's woes. The writing for the clarinet is finely imagined, especially in the closing variation, where the music rushes headlong through a gauntlet of technical challenges for the soloist.

© Robert Cummings, All Music Guide