Product Description
You can see a video of the score on You Tube at http://youtu.be/rA-RAhm4rQI
Here is a review about the CPE Bach Duet for Two Clarinets in the September, 2010 issue of "The Clarinet", the magazine of the International Clarinet Association. by Julianne Kirk
Duet for Two Clarinets, H. 638. Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, John Gibson, editor. JB Linear Music, 2000.
C.P.E. Bach composed these clarinet duets while serving as the music director of the churches in Hamburg. There is evidence that these duets were for the clarinet stop of a mechanical musical clock. True or not, these duets are characteristic of clarinet technique at the time and give clarinetists an opportunity to play early music.
Edited by John Gibson, this work originates from a manuscript in the Austrian National Library in Vienna, Austria. The manuscript, dated April 23, 1929, comes with the notation "The duet for two clarinettes in C major by Ph. E. Bach is in a present copy in possession of the Royal Conservatoire de Musique of Bruxelles. The copy is completely without error. Only articulation marks, which are missing due to the former practices of notations, were substituted. The dynamic work or copy was executed and worked through exactly and is worthy of note."
This is a charming duet in two movements, Adagio and sostenuto in 4/4 and Allegro in 9/8, that would be perfectly appropriate in recital or as a terrific sight reading exercise for students. As a teaching tool, this duet gives us an exposure to the style of trills and ornamentation during C.P.E. Bach's time and for the younger student, a look into rhythmic subdivision during a slow movement.
There are a few minor problems with the layout of the work as the page turns are awkward for both players. A photocopy is required for performance so the work is uninterrupted in order to turn pages. In the first movement, some of the beats don't entirely line up while one part rests making it difficult for the resting part to determine entrances visually. Otherwise the printing is very clear with clean articulation and dynamic markings. This is a very enjoyable work to perform or sightread.
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