As an enthusiastic clarinettist in the National Youth Orchestra I was very intrigued when an early music professional ensemble came one evening to play us the Spohr Nonet.
Louis Spohr – Nonet in F major, Op.31
Mozart: Clarinet Quintet / Anthony Pay
When I went to study at the Royal Academy of Music, I began my enchanting journey with not just the clarinet but its many cousins, sisters and grandmothers, which opened doors to so much more repertoire.
But the one piece of repertoire that shares a special place in every clarinettist’s lifelong journey is the Mozart Clarinet Concerto. I remember my mum telling me that once I’d learned that piece I would be done with my studies. Little did she know one never finishes your journey with this piece.
On being asked to perform the Mozart with AAM* I have to let you in on a secret. I’ve never played this piece on a period clarinet before. Perhaps there was a bit of my mum in me somewhere saying the journey would be over once I’ve done it. But anyway, my time has come and by gum am I excited.
Mozart wrote the piece for a clarinet that is longer and lower than the normal clarinet, but we don’t fully know what this clarinet looked like or played like. We don’t even quite know how many notes it had. We have a rather vague picture from a programme note and that’s what makers go on to reconstruct the instrument.
In many ways I think over the years we’ve gotten close to the sound and shape of Mozarts clarinet but I wanted a fresh look at the design. How do the keys on the back of the instrument that we can’t see in the picture work? How do we find the low B? But also, for me, how do we adapt and enjoy this sound world in today’s modern concert hall, which is nothing like Mozart’s beloved Vienna concert spaces.?
Back in Mozart’s day, Stadler (Mozart’s favourite clarinettist and best mate, at least to go for a beer with) along with Lotz, the woodwind maker, got together to form the ultimate trinity in composer – player - designer and forged ahead with new sounds and music. I have teamed up with the super talented Guy Cowley to make a new design of basset clarinet to hopefully have a fresh and unique take on this most perfect of pieces.
