Authentic Mozart performed on the original Mozart clarinet

Maciej Golebiowski has been devoted for a long time to the idea of reconstructing original Mozart’s basset clarinet works – discovering historical musical notation, which can enrich the performing practice. It resulted in “The basset clarinet – Mozart in the original” project.

Within the framework of this project, he was invited as the only clarinettist to “Spirit of Mozart” performance – concerts opening Mozartjahr 2006 in Vienna.
He also performed this interesting programme on the stages of concert halls in Katowice, Czestochowa, Koszalin, Lublin, Torun. The presentation of the instrument and its tone in authentic works took place as part of lectures (the Music Academy in Gdansk; the Music Academy in Wroclaw) and a series of chamber concerts with “Amber” string quartet and a clarinet duo “HEBE”.

The programme consists of Mozart’s clarinet compositions performed on a unique basset clarinet ( also known as Mozart's clarinet ), which was made by Buffet Crampon France according to the original design of that time.

A symphony concert

1) Clarinet concert in A major, KV 622, in the first version for basset clarinet
2) Aria no. 9 "Parto, ma tu ben mio" for mezzo-soprano and basset clarinet from the Opera "La clemenza di Tito" KV 621
3) Aria no. 24 "Ah lo veggio" for tenor accompanied by basset clarinet from the Opera "Cosi van tutte" KV 588

A chamber concert: basset clarinet with a string quartet

1) Quintet in A major, KV 581 "Stadler-Quintet" for basset clarinet and string quartet
2) Allegro in B flat major, KV 516c for basset clarinet and string quartet (reconstruction)
3) Rondo in A major, KV 581a for basset clarinet and string quartet (reconstruction) based on a version by Otto Bach from the year 1870.

Maciej Golebiowski is also pleased to offer you the following:

• A short introduction before the concert, in which the performer will present the background of the compositions and their history, tell about the basset clarinet, Mozart and his time, life in the Royal Palace in Vienna and the Golden Era of wind instruments. He will also explain how the original compositions were reconstructed.

• A multi-media lecture which is an extended version of the introduction given before the concerts. It can be held for students, musicians and music lovers separately (without a concert.)

Additionally to the programme a  demo CD “Variazioni su un tema dell’aria *Là ci darem la mano* di Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart” was released to introduce the sound of basset clarinet.  

Maciej Golebiowski is delighted to present to all music lovers this unique possibility to hear Mozart's compositions in their original version performed on the reconstructed Mozart basset clarinet.
 

Mozart’s basset clarinet works

The originals of the last instrumental compositions of Mozart, the clarinet concert in A major KV 622 and the quintet in A major KV 581, known as "Stadler - Quintet", were lost after the composer's death. The first printed scores were already adapted for the traditional clarinet. Other works of Mozart (e.g. fragments of quintets or arias) were also performed on the traditional clarinet.

As late as 1948 after long research work, a new idea was presented to the public, namely that these compositions had most probably been composed for the basset clarinet. The existence of the basset clarinet was repeatedly confirmed and fragments of scores (such as the draft of the concert in G major for basset horn KV 621a) have been passed on to us. This has given rise to idea of trying to reconstruct this sound.