Largo

Bernhard Henrik Crusell (15th of October, 1775 to 28th of July, 1838) was a Finnish composer and clarinet player in a military band in Sveaborg. In 1803 Crusell studied clarinet playing and composition at a conservatoire in Paris. He became a court musician at Stockholm, and in 1848 the musical leader of the Royal Grenadier Guards Regiments as well. Being himself a very succesful and brilliant clarinettist, most of his compositions are written for clarinet. The following Largo from the Quartetto A-major for clarinet, violin, viola and cello is as well suitable for a pure clarinet ensemble.

The voice, in the original designated for A-clarinet, was installed in the same key for B-clarinet, mostly unchanged.

To simplify the readability of the voices, the time of the movement was changed from 3/8 time to 3/4 time. The Early Romatic composition, full of original, thematic ideas is an enrichment for the repertoire of clarinet quartets and especially suitable for chamber- and church concerts , but also for the competitions “Youth Plays”.

Translation by Marlene Loosmann