Six Duo Concertans for Two Clarinets, Op. 9, Nos. 1 & 2. . - Woodwinds - book review

Six Duo Concertans for sum of two units Clarinets, Op. 9, Nos. 1 & 2 by the agency of Jean Xavier Lefevre, edited by dint of Georgina Dobree. Emerson Edition Ltd distributed by the agency of Theodore Presser Co., (588 N Gulph Rd King of Prussia, PA 19406) 2000 Score and parts, 41 pp $3295 Late intermediate.

As individual who is in constant search for quality clarinet duo music to be used within the private studio as well as the design hall, I am confident that this of the highest order edition of Jean Xavier Lefevre's (1763-1829) Duo Opus 9 is destined for succes within the clarinet duo repertoire.

The eleven puts of Duos for two clarinets by dint of Lefevre (according to Fetis) were compos in the early decades of the nineteenth hundred during which the popularity of the wind instrument virtuosi in Europe reached its height. ofttimes the soloists commissioned popular composer to write concoct pieces or concertos for them, with the stipulation that they were granted exclusive performing rights to the work for a certain longitudinal dimensions of time. Many of the virtuosi went level further by composing their be in possession of music that would enable them to demonstrate their technical prowess.

Lefevre's contribution to the era of the virtuoso clarinetist was as an orchestral performer at the Opera in Paris, a professor at the Paris Conservatoire, and as a composer of six Clarinet Concertos, several concertante works, a Methode for clarinet (for which he is best remembered) and a number of chamber pieces including the puts of Duos for two clarinets. The Duo are housed in the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris in an 1810 edition by means of Naderman. Characteristic of all of the Lefevre Duo each are in sum of two units movements and are equal in limits of melodic interest and difficulty between the sum of two units parts. The Opus 9 Duo were dedicated to Lefevre's friend and colleague, Rodolphe, a horn player.

Great attention to detail by means of acclaimed clarinetist and editor Georgina Dobree places this edition aside from other nineteenth-century duo generally available. Within the introduction Dobree writes, " one as well as the other duos have been unashamedly edited in anticipation that the parts might be studied individually before the players meet" by dint of doing so, Dobree has taken all of the guesswork on the outside of the ornamentation by providing her possess qualified interpretation of the original markings. Perhaps the greatest in quantity valuable contribution to these duo is the brackets provided, used to identify the more prominent passages within each clarinet part and score. In the original Naderman edition, the markings are inconsistent and confusing to the player, on the other hand after careful scrutiny of sections in a similar manner of writing Dobree has simplified the reading of the music by means of maintaining consistent markings throughout the composition. Although the more prominent passage is obvious to the more advanced musician, this rife edition makes the composition more accessible to the younger player, and therefore, a more valuable edition to own

This work is highly accessible to advanced high academy students as the clarinet range does not reach out beyond a written F above the staff, and is equally appropriate for society students as sight-reading material within the private exercise setting, as well as for performance in the plan hall. Meticulously edited with fine attention to detail in terminuss of phrasing, articulation, ornamentation and melodic satisfied these duos are a fine example of early nineteenth-century diction that will be enjoyed by dint of clarinetists for years to come

Diane Cawein, Lincoln, Nebraska.

COPYRIGHT 2001 Music Teachers National Association, Inc.

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