Alexander Krein Three Sketches on Hebrew Themes for Clarinet Quintet
Op.12
Presents
Alexander Krein
3 Sketches on Hebrew Themes
For Clarinet Quintet, Op.12
Alexander Krein (1883-1951) was the son of a well-known Klezmer musician. He
entered the Moscow Conservatory at fourteen, taking composition lessons from
Sergei Taneyev. Subsequently, he joined the Society for Jewish Folk Music and
began to weave Hebraic melodies into the format of orthodox chamber works.
The Three Sketches on Hebrew Themes for Clarinet Quintet, Op.12 is the first of
a set of two, both from 1914. Here, Krein sets himself the task of introducing
Jewish folk melody into a formal chamber music setting. In three movements, the
opening
Lento
, has an elegiac quality and takes familiar, almost
stereotypical, Hebraic material as its subject matter. The very impressive
second movement,
Andante
, begins with the cello and then the clarinet
playing over the tremolo of the other strings. Suddenly, a klezmer melody
thrusts its way forward. Krein’s treatment is imaginative. The final movement,
Allegro moderato
, begins like something out of Fiddler on the Roof, with
a fidgety dancing melody sung by the first violin and then the clarinet. Krein
avoids sinking into cliche by introducing a warm cello melody and an exciting
coda. Both works would be excellent in concert.
Parts:
$29.95
Parts & Score: $36.95