Concerto for Clarinet, Viola, and Orchestra

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Concerto for Clarinet, Viola, and Orchestra
by Max Bruch
Max Bruch 1920.jpg
Max Bruch c. 1920, a few years after composing the concerto.
Opus M. 88
Composed1911
Published1942
Duration20 minutes
MovementsThree
ScoringSolo Clarinet, Viola, and Orchestra
Premiere
Date5 March, 1912
Location Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Performers Willy Hess, Max Felix Bruch (son of composer)

The Concerto for Clarinet, Viola, and Orchestra in E minor, Op. 88, is a composition by Max Bruch which was composed in 1911. It premiered on 5 March 1912 in Wilhelmshaven by the piece's dedicatees, violist Willy Hess and the composer's son and clarinet soloist, Max Felix Bruch. [1] The score however was published 23 years after the composer's death, finally being released in 1942. [2] [3]

Contents

Instrumentation

The concerto is scored for solo clarinet in A and viola, two flutes, two oboes, cor anglais, two clarinets in A, two bassoons, four horns in F, two trumpets in B-flat, timpani, and strings.

Bruch also arranged the solo clarinet part for violin.

Movements

The concerto is written in three movements:

  1. Andante con moto (E minor, B major, 4
    4
  2. Allegro moderato (G major, B minor, 3
    4
    )
  3. Allegro molto (E major, G major, 2
    4
    )

All three movements feature the Swedish folksong "Ack Värmeland Du Sköna." A typical performance lasts approximately 20 minutes.

Recordings

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References

  1. Fifield, Christopher (1990). Max Bruch – Biographie eines Komponisten. Zürich: Schweizer Verlagshaus. pp. 210, 291–295.
  2. "Concerto for Clarinet, Viola and Orchestra", Op. 88 Musikproduktion Jürgen Höflich
  3. Double Concerto for Clarinet/Violin, Viola and Orchestra, College of Wooster