Stamitz, Carl (1745-1801)

The present work, designated No.7 in Michael Jacob's catalogue of the concertos in his study Die Klarinettenkonzerte von Carl Stamitz (Wiesbaden, Breitkopf und Hrtel, 1991), was probably composed in Paris in the early 1770s and this edition is based on a set of MS parts preserved in the sterreichische Nationalbibliothek under the shelfmark S.m.5865. The title wrapper reads: Concerto / Clarinetto Principale in B / Due Violini, / Due Oboe, / Due Corni in B. / Viola / et / Basso / Del Sigl: Stamitz. / Berlin . The addition of 'Berlin' under Stamitz's name may be an indication that this MS copy dates from after 1786 when the composer was under commission to supply the King of Prussia with all his latest works. In the absence of both the autograph score and an authentic set of parts, this edition presents as faithfully as possible the intentions of the composer as transmitted in the Viennese MS. The style and notation of articulation and dynamic markings have been standardized throughout and, where missing, markings have been reconstructed from parallel passages. These are indicated by the use of dotted slurs or brackets where appropriate. Like most eighteenth century sources, the MS is inconsistent at times in its notation of appoggiature ; these too have been standardized to minimize confusion. Obvious wrong notes have been corrected without comment; editorial emendations with no authority from the source are placed within brackets. A cadenza to the first movement, in the hand of the copyist, has been appended to the solo part. Since the composition of cadenzas is not generally the preserve of copyists and the MS parts themselves are rather amateurishly copied it appears as if this copy may have been made by a contemporary clarinettist. The cadenza is not included in this edition. Allan Badley