Classical Music | Violin Music

Recorded on 07/08/2009, uploaded on 08/31/2009

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Though there is some doubt as to their authenticity, it is believed that the Three Duos, WoO27 for clarinet and bassoon come from Beethoven’s years in Bonn, quite possibly as late as 1792, the year of his departure to Vienna. The choice of instruments, the clarinet and bassoon versus perhaps the more common violin and cello, likely comes as a result from the prominent performers on these instruments that were at the electoral court in Bonn. The works were published in Paris sometime between 1810 and 1815, though it seems that their publication may have possibly gone unnoticed to the composer, or at the very least passed without comment from him.

Cast in the three movements, the first duo, in C major, opens with an energetic Allegro commodo. An uncomplicated sonata form movement, the movement’s two principal themes are stated by the clarinet while the bassoon takes on a relatively secondary role, providing harmonic support and effecting the required modulations through florid passagework. The middle movement, a Larghetto sostenuto, shifts to the key of C minor. A lyrical movement, it serves mainly as an introduction to the finale, closing back in C minor after a brief episode in E-flat major. The finale is an exuberant rondo in the tonic of C major. The movement’s refrain is full of Classical refinement and grace, while the first episode nearly bursts forth uncontrollably with joyful triplets. Most interesting, the second episode shifts back to a dramatic C minor giving but a small glimpse of the future Beethoven. This duo has also been transcribed for multiple pairs of other instruments.      Joseph DuBose

Courtesy of International Music Foundation.