Virtuosity Through the Ages: A Sampling of Virtuosic Clarinet Works

This thesis explores virtuosity as it applies to the following five clarinet works: Grand Duo Concertant by Carl Maria von Weber, Solo de Concours by André Messager, Caprice by Anders Koppel, Live Wire by Theresa Martin, and The Bangui Anomaly by Eric Mandat. By detailing the clarinet’s development, including its creation in the early 18th century and key innovations over the next several hundred years, the histories of several key clarinet manufacturers are described to further analyze the innovation of music at the time. This background is necessary to understand the foundation of the clarinet and how virtuosity is tied closely to its mechanical development. Based on this fundamental information, virtuosity is comprised of three pillars: technical proficiency, musicianship, and recognition. In order for a piece or performer to be considered virtuosic, they must exemplify all three pillars. Technical proficiency applies to physically manipulating the instrument, including finger agility, articulation, voicing, dynamic and intonation control, among others. Musicianship further describes personal interpretation within stylistic boundaries, and the ability to implement interpretive judgement. Finally, recognition serves as esteemed acknowledgement from a panel of field critics. Accompanying this paper is a creative performance recording of the five aforementioned clarinet pieces, demonstrating virtuosity through a wide range of musical genres and eras.