CLARINET CONCERTO

It was probably his country upbringing that imbued Rimsky-Korsakov with a love of the folk music of his native Russia, and a love of the sea which brought about a career as a naval officer. The symphonic poem 'Sadko' and his first symphony led to his appointment as Professor of Composition at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, a position he had to study hard to fill. His composing talents were realized as one of 'The Five' or 'The Mighty Handful' (Balakirev, Cui, Mussorgsky & Borodin besides R-K) who shared a nationalist style and a leaning towards Russian folk music. Rimsky-Korsakov wrote 15 operas and a number of orchestral works, the better of them as 'programme' music - the best known being the symphonic suite 'Sheherazade' of 1888.

In 1873 R-K resigned his naval commission to become Inspector of Naval Bands. This gave him an insight into the capabilities of woodwind and brass and scoring for bands which brought about the Clarinet Concerto in Eb Major dated 1878. Although written in the customary 3 movements the piece was referred to by the composer as a 'Concertstuck' (Concert Piece) and is usually performed as a single movement. It was originally scored for soloist and military band but the accompaniment has been rescored for orchestra. In style the concerto blends Russian folk-inspired melodies with 'brilliante' cadenzas to demonstrate the clarinet's upper range.

• Allegro moderato
• Andante
• Allegro moderato

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