Played by CHARLES DRAPER and THE VIRTUOSO QUARTET
Relayed from the Rudolf Steiner Hall
THIS is written for Clarinet and String
Quartet (two Violins, Viola and 'Cello).
It is not a mere show piece for Clarinet, though it does indeed use all the best resources of the instrument. But the Clarinet is here little more prominent than the Strings and, in fact, this Quartet owes much to the Clarinet's capacity for taking an unobtrusive part in the general conversation of the Strings.
There are five Movements, the Third being joined to, and almost an introduction to, the Fourth.
The First Movement (Quick) is fairly complicated, but none the less beautiful. There are at least four short tunes, given in turn to most of the instruments impartially.
In the Second Movement (Slow) the Strings are muted. It is more lyrical, but the middle part of the Movement consists chiefly of elaborations in Clarinet and First Violin.
The Third Movement (Moving steadily) is exceedingly simple and hymn-tuhe-like. As already said, it is joined to the-Fourth Movement (Rapid, but not too rapid, and with feeling). This is playful, whimsical, and has some interesting colour effects.
The Fifth Movement ( With speed) is an Air with five Variations. Towards the end a suggestion of the First Movement becomes increasingly marked, until we come to the Coda, which is founded on the First and Last Movements.