Alright Tune Namers, here we go: it would appear to me obviously to be a clarinet duo (huge surprise) and it has a definite classical flair, to the point where if I were just guessing without a hint, I'd go with Mozart, that paragon of clarinetitude.
But—there's that hint!
Of course, Wolfie was famously the son of Leopold, but that's not exactly what he was most famous for. There's an outside chance this could be by Wolfgang's son Franz Xaver Mozart, but I don't think that's very likely.
No, in this case, I think we need to look at the Bach brood. Listener Jeremy might try to insert himself into the CPE discourse, but the music sounds too straight-laced (and classical era) to be him. The biggest influence on Mozart was JC, aka Johan Christian, aka the London Bach, and that's where I'm putting most of my money.
I'll hedge with a smaller bet on Wilhelm Friedemann.
I will include this in next week's edition, but I should also mention that the excellent journalists at VAN have come out with their own thoroughly reported story about the situation at CIM this morning:
Interestingly, I feel like based on this precise passage, there’s a fairly wide span of years and countries that this could have come from (like could almost be Galuppi and could almost be Weber) but we’re probably in a late galant / classical idiom here. Assuming it was originally written for clarinets, it probably can’t have been written before the late C18th, when the clarinet became more popular.
Then we have the hint! It’s a very nicely-written passage, so it seems unlikely we’re hearing an incredibly obscure son, which makes it seem quite likely it’s one of the Bach clan. I see TP is going with JC, and that makes a LOT of sense, but I’m just slightly intrigued by that rather Empfindsamkeit-y unexpected silence in the middle of the passage. Also the triplet feel reminds me of some of the Württemburg (sp?) sonatas. So! just for kicks I’m going to go the other way and go for CPE.
Not saying anything specific to this NTT, but the assumption that I am submitting pieces written for clarinet(s) rather than arrangements is generally correct.
My NTT this week was submitted well before this populist uprising at Tone Prose HQ, but I stand by it anyway. Someone has to provide actual stumpers (and a continued clarinet music education to the masses).
NTT: I'd already drafted my response (below) before I came back here to post my comment. But I see I'm essentially on the same page as TP (Will? or Joey?) and Chris:
My first thoughts about Father/Son combos, before even listening to the clip, went to the Austrian Strauss family of Johann and Johann, Jr., and the German Strauss pair of Franz and Richard. But, after hearing this clip, both are likely about a century too late stylistically for this clarinet duet.
So Amadeus - and Leopold, were my 1st guess based on the music. This sure sounds like Mozart to me, so I'll put him in my basket.
But . . . the clue that "this composer is famously someone’s son" indicates to me that the father is MORE famous than the son. So I'm counting on someone in the Bach clan to be involved. JS had at least 3 or 4 sons who were also composers, but not quite as prominent as dad.
Of course, the most infamous of his offspring is PDQ 😉, but he's not getting my vote. The only 2 others I can remember at the moment are CPE and JC, so I will put both of them in my basket. And I'll give JC a slight edge because I recall that Mozart met - or maybe even briefly studied with - him.
Alright Tune Namers, here we go: it would appear to me obviously to be a clarinet duo (huge surprise) and it has a definite classical flair, to the point where if I were just guessing without a hint, I'd go with Mozart, that paragon of clarinetitude.
But—there's that hint!
Of course, Wolfie was famously the son of Leopold, but that's not exactly what he was most famous for. There's an outside chance this could be by Wolfgang's son Franz Xaver Mozart, but I don't think that's very likely.
No, in this case, I think we need to look at the Bach brood. Listener Jeremy might try to insert himself into the CPE discourse, but the music sounds too straight-laced (and classical era) to be him. The biggest influence on Mozart was JC, aka Johan Christian, aka the London Bach, and that's where I'm putting most of my money.
I'll hedge with a smaller bet on Wilhelm Friedemann.
I will include this in next week's edition, but I should also mention that the excellent journalists at VAN have come out with their own thoroughly reported story about the situation at CIM this morning:
https://van-magazine.com/mag/cleveland-institute-of-music-carlos-kalmar-discrimination-bullying/
Interestingly, I feel like based on this precise passage, there’s a fairly wide span of years and countries that this could have come from (like could almost be Galuppi and could almost be Weber) but we’re probably in a late galant / classical idiom here. Assuming it was originally written for clarinets, it probably can’t have been written before the late C18th, when the clarinet became more popular.
Then we have the hint! It’s a very nicely-written passage, so it seems unlikely we’re hearing an incredibly obscure son, which makes it seem quite likely it’s one of the Bach clan. I see TP is going with JC, and that makes a LOT of sense, but I’m just slightly intrigued by that rather Empfindsamkeit-y unexpected silence in the middle of the passage. Also the triplet feel reminds me of some of the Württemburg (sp?) sonatas. So! just for kicks I’m going to go the other way and go for CPE.
Not saying anything specific to this NTT, but the assumption that I am submitting pieces written for clarinet(s) rather than arrangements is generally correct.
My NTT this week was submitted well before this populist uprising at Tone Prose HQ, but I stand by it anyway. Someone has to provide actual stumpers (and a continued clarinet music education to the masses).
NTT: I'd already drafted my response (below) before I came back here to post my comment. But I see I'm essentially on the same page as TP (Will? or Joey?) and Chris:
My first thoughts about Father/Son combos, before even listening to the clip, went to the Austrian Strauss family of Johann and Johann, Jr., and the German Strauss pair of Franz and Richard. But, after hearing this clip, both are likely about a century too late stylistically for this clarinet duet.
So Amadeus - and Leopold, were my 1st guess based on the music. This sure sounds like Mozart to me, so I'll put him in my basket.
But . . . the clue that "this composer is famously someone’s son" indicates to me that the father is MORE famous than the son. So I'm counting on someone in the Bach clan to be involved. JS had at least 3 or 4 sons who were also composers, but not quite as prominent as dad.
Of course, the most infamous of his offspring is PDQ 😉, but he's not getting my vote. The only 2 others I can remember at the moment are CPE and JC, so I will put both of them in my basket. And I'll give JC a slight edge because I recall that Mozart met - or maybe even briefly studied with - him.