Learning to Listen: The Clarinet

This week on Learning to Listen, the Clarinet is front and center. Alexander Fiterstein, professor of clarinet at the University of Minnesota and featured soloist with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, is the special guest, and he shares some of his favorite works for his instrument.

The clarinet — as we know it — is the youngest instrument in the symphony orchestra. There is some argument about just exactly where the name comes from; one thought is that it comes from the Renaissance clarino, which was actually a trumpet but was made of wood and looks a lot like the old "licorice stick" we know now, but it was played by buzzing the lips. Or maybe the name "clarinet" came from the timbre — the "clarion" register that was high and needed to be played with the addition of lots of finger holes.

Whatever the case may be, the clarinet has been a fixture in symphony orchestras since 1800, and it was a favorite of Mozart. It was Mozart who wrote the first pieces specifically for the instrument; he fell in love with the sound, which he felt was about as close as you could get to the human voice.

But it wasn't just as a solo instrument that Mozart adored this unique sound that was only just beginning to make its way into our ears. Mozart was always thrilled when an orchestra had a clarinet in its roster and so he could include it in a piece he was writing — even if it featured the piano!

One of the really cool things about the clarinet is its versatility. Think Benny Goodman — the King of Swing, the Professor — also called the Patriarch of the Clarinet. Or David Krakauer, founder of the Band Klezmer madness! A classical clarinetist needs to have at least a working knowledge of folk styles and jazz to be able to play Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," for instance.

Be sure to listen to the complete program to learn more about the clarinet and to hear many different pieces played on the instrument.

Program Playlist

World Dance
Ronn Yedidia, piano; Alexander Fiterstein, clarinet

WA Mozart, Clarinet Concerto, 2nd movement
German Chamber Philharmonic
Martin Fröst, clarinet

WA Mozart, Piano Concerto No. 23, 2nd movement
Dresden State Orchestra/David Zinman
Christian Zacharias, piano

Felix Mendelssohn, Symphony No. 3 "Scottish": 2nd movement
Scottish Chamber Orchestra/Jaime Laredo

Johannes Brahms, Clarinet Quintet: 2nd movement
Julliard String Quartet
Charles Neidich, clarinet

Carl Maria von Weber, Clarinet Concertino
San Francisco Ballet Orchestra/Martin West
Alexander Fiterstein, clarinet

Carl Nielsen, Clarinet Concerto
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra/Thomas Dausgaard
Alexander Fiterstein, clarinet

Gallery

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