Così fan tutte und der Charakter von E-Dur: Klangfarben der Klarinette

Lawson, C. and Pearson, I. E. (2012) Così fan tutte und der Charakter von E-Dur: Klangfarben der Klarinette. Acta Mozartiana, 59 (1) pp. 36-44. ISSN 0001-6233

Abstract

Mozart's ensemble writing for single-reed instruments almost exclusively employs clarinets pitched in A, Bb, and C, together with the basset horn in F. Nonetheless, in both Munich and Vienna, Mozart also had access to the clarinet in B natural. This instrument appears in two numbers in Idomeneo (nos. 15, 19) and one in Così fan tutte (no. 25), all of which are in the key of E major. However, in the Terzettino (no. 10) in Così fan tutte, which is also in E, Mozart opts for the A clarinet. This paper draws on experience of performance on historical instruments as well as evidence from contemporary documentary source materials as regards key characteristics. Ambiguity regarding perceptions of E major is noted, as well as the wide range of tonalities employed by Mozart in Così fan tutte, which are indicative of his acute perception of the nature of each individual clarinet's timbre.

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