I am at the mo studying the Mozart clarinet concerto - I found it arranged for Bb clarinet and am really enjoying playing it.
I am just wondering if it makes any difference being written in Bb as apposed to A for exam or other purposes.
To me it sounds fab - but then I don't have an A clarinet so can't tell the difference.
Anyone out there got anything to say about this ??
Thanks

I think an A clarinet does sound slightly different (better in my opinion). Mind you, these days a lot of performances of the Mozart are on the (reconstructed) basset clarinet, which does sound right.

I suspect that for a diploma exam performance, an A clarinet would be expected, but for any exams below that level Bb would be fine.

Chris

Mozart Clarinet Concerto


It might be expected, but it's perfectly acceptable to perform it on a Bb for any AB diploma exam. There are suggested editions for both Bb and A instruments.


Yes, being that bit bigger, the A is that bit more mellow. Basset clarinets go down to low C, and there are so many passages which seem to make more sense if you bear this in mind - using that extra third at the bottom avoids several leaps of a seventh, some of which don't sound as Mozartian as a straight run (if that makes sense!).

Mind you, the extra keywork on a basset clarinet makes me go - and that's just looking at one!

Love this piece!!

I too only have a Bb clarinet. The Bb versions you buy are fingered the same as on an A but the accompanying part is transposed. Therefore you cannot play along with traditional recordings but it's fine with the appropriate accomp. Not sure about exams but I thought that if it's listed for clarinet and doesn't specify A then I think you're ok. Not an expert on this though. Just my opinion.

Can I ask a question in this thread too? Is the Dowani in 3 tempi version of this piece for A or Bb (ie does the CD accompaniment work with Bb?) Thinking of getting it but don't want to be without the accompaniment as already have just the paperwork.

Thanks - sorry to piggy-back in on this.

I don't know, but would guess it's for clarinet in A.

At various points in the past, movements from it have been on Grades VI and VIII syllabi, so accompaniments are available on the AB CDs, recorded twice (once for Bb instruments, once for A). www.piano-accompaniments.com have a version for Bb clarinet too

Ok Thanks.
Dawn

I'm playing this aswell for grade 8, and for the exam, Bb edition is perfectly ok!
The only difference is that sounds up a semi-tone! (or is it down a semi-tone? I can never get the hang of transposing... )
It's actually written for basset horn in G, so even if you play it on the A clarinet it still doesn't sound how Mozart intended!!

It's lovely to play, isn't is? Which movement are you going to do?

No it's written for basset clarinet in A - so same as a normal A clarinet but extends to a low C. I believe there is a fragment that uses the same thematic material for basset horn but in the absense of an original manuscript the evidence points to basset clarinet not horn as the intended instrument.

Yes, agreed. One of the set pieces for A level music (when I took it) was the Mozart clarinet concerto. Good grief, that takes me back

I've got to do the three movements for the Trinity dip - so I believe !!

Definitely clarinet in A

http://www.bh2000.net/score/orchmoza/m64.pdf

Steve

I studied it for GCSE music about 20 years ago! ...... you'd think with hearing it so much and dissecting every bar I would be sick of it, but I still love it!

Does that mean that I really do have to buy an A clarinet and that a performance on a Bb for Trinity dip would be unacceptable ??? HELP I can't afford one !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is nothing on the Trinity syllabus that says you must use an A clarinet version. It's on the FTCL list as 'any reliable edition'.

Furthermore, it specifically states, and I quote, 'Repertoire for Clarinet in A may be offered on Clarinet in Bb, provided that the piano part is transposed accordingly'.

So you can relax!

Furthermore, it specifically states, and I quote, 'Repertoire for Clarinet in A may be offered on Clarinet in Bb, provided that the piano part is transposed accordingly'.

So you can relax!
[/quote]
thankyou I am now relaxing ..........................

Wow... well I've playing the same piece with you now... the Bb version of mozart clarinet concerto... but after listening the recordings... I've got some thinking of getting myself an A clarinet... haha... since it sounds more nicer than the Bb version... I think its ok that the Bb version since I've asked the university ( I had to record it for applying) that can I use the Bb version of it, and they say if you have the accompaniment with it then its fine. So I think it goes the same to you too..

It's back on the OCR AS music course...

i get to disect it after christmas...
we've been doing Bach's suite in D until now...

His second Clarinet concerto is taking shape, and ought to make progress over Christmas.

It is in F minor. (So written in G minor)