Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus (1756-1791)

 

Mozart's wonderful use of the bassoon in his operatic and religeous works is well known.  Four lesser-known settings of vocal works in which the use of the bassoon is uncertain or controversial also deserve attention. 

 

Mozart alternatives / arrangements

 

Requiem KV 626. 

In the first published version in c.1800 from

Breitkopf and Härtel, Leipzig,  the Tuba Mirum

was presented with fagotto solo, with the trombone

playing only the introductory chords.

See .pdf link for score. (Stadtbibliothek zu Leipzig PM 6981)

The complete score of this version is accessible on-line:

http://imslp.org/wiki/Requiem_in_D_minor,_K.626_%28Mozart,_Wolfgang_Amadeus%29#Full_Scores

The tuba mirum solo is also included in the 1st bassoon

part of the version completed by Süssmayr:

http://imslp.org/wiki/Requiem_in_D_minor,_K.626_%28Mozart,_Wolfgang_Amadeus%29

It is not known whether the use of bassoon reflected the competence of available players,

or uncertainty about the intended instrumentation. A critic, who may

have heard both versions, writing in The Allgemeine Musikalische Zeitung in 1801

was unimpressed by the version with bassoon - see commentary.

For further discussion, see Mozart Forum:

http://www.mozartforum.com/VB_forum/archive/index.php?t-146.html 

The publisher Anton Andre of Offenbach-am-Main in The Quarterly Musical and

Magazine Review, vol IX of 1827, pp 408-9, gives some background on the

instrumentation controversy – see commentary. 

A performance of Tuba Mirum with fagotto solo is on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjxpwMl662M&feature=related

The comments on this YouTube performance are interesting!

 

Aria “Mens sancta Deo”, soprano, fagotto solo, orch

Narodni Museum Prague, CZ-Pnm sign. XIII A 64. No RISM listing.

The Karl-Otto Hartmann performance on CD and YouTube (see below) differs substantially from this library source, which presents a simpler and less florid solo bassoon line. The transcription in the .pdf file here corresponds to the more soloistic Hartmann performance.

Wolfgang Kleber, Darmstadt, has given generous permission to make his transcrition for soprano, bassoon and keyboard available here.  That transcription is taken from the Hartmann performance.

CD - see below.

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8V5zOykSoI

 

Aria “Plasmator Deus”, soprano, fagotto solo, orch

Contemporary resetting of “Se il padre perdei” from Idomeneo, originally with obbligato flute, oboe, horn, bassoon. The source of this version and the identity of the arranger are not known.

Wolfgang Kleber, Darmstadt has given generous permission to make his setting of this aria for soprano, bassoon and keyboard available here.

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZhrj9DebqM

Both arias on CD: Arts Archives 43012-2 63m, “Unbekannte Arien für Sopran”, tracks 4&8

http://www.amazon.com/Mozart-Arias-Soprano-Karl-Otto-Hartmann/dp/B000FBH44Y/ref=sr_1_71?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1269781947&sr=1

 

La Clemenza di Tito KV 621

"Non più di fiori"  mezzo-soprano, basset-horn/bassoon, orchestra/keyboard

Several early nineteenth century sources from Berlin suggest that this aria was sometimes performed with fagotto obbligato, instead of the specified basset-horn, an instrument at that time possibly in decline. For example:

1.   Zeitung für die elegante Welt: Mode, Unterhaltung, Kunst, 1802: 2; p 108. books.google.com.au/books?id=1YZEAAAAcAAJ&dq=obligatem+Fagott&lr=

2.   Das Dramaturgisches Wochenblatt, Zweiter Jahrgang Nr.14, Berlin Sonnabends am 5. Oktober 1816 p.106, contains the following critique:

“Den 28sten September: Titus, Oper von Mozart, in zwei Akten.  Mad. Schulz sang

die grosse Scene der Vitellia mit obligatem Fagott (sehr gut ausgeführt) anstatt

des Basset-Hornes, mit Ausdrück des tiefen Gefühls, nur zu oft schleppend

im Zeitmaaß”

ttp://books.google.com.au/books?id=myUtAAAAYAAJ&pg=PT11&lpg=PT11&dq=Titus+Fagott+Wochenblatt&source=bl&ots=GtldFthxFH&sig=D7-KOCwBJRdsA89_oStN6MVInmg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=dsJvUL2eAqGhigeKn4GwBg&sqi=2&ved=0CCUQ6AEwAQ

“Madame Schulz sang Vitellia’s big scene with obbligato bassoon (very well performed)

instead of the basset-horn, with expression of deep feeling, only too often with dragging tempo.”

No original performance material has been found.

The .pdf file contains gives the obbligato part as it might have been modified for bassoon.

That version can be used with the keyboard reduction published by Musica Rara, MR 2089.

See http://www.musicarara.com

http://www.worldcat.org/title/non-piu-di-fiori-from-la-clemenza-di-tito-kv-621-for-mezzo-soprano-basset-horn-or-clarinet-piano/oclc/421864377

  

Almost all of the following Mozart arias can be heard on YouTube - see  links below.

The links often lead to numerous performances of the same work that show interesting differences in style.

Reference: Ward MK, Mozart and the bassoon. Music and Letters 1949; 30: 8-25. 

 

La Finta Giardiniera KV 196

Aria #18 “Ach, schmeichelhafte Hoffnung”,

Soprano, 2 fagotti, strings

Score, pp 151-6:

http://imslp.org/wiki/La_finta_giardiniera,_K.196_%28Mozart,_Wolfgang_Amadeus%29

YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXZ3UQtb9qY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsF6yoaXGY8

 

Popoli di Tessaglia Aria KV 316 (300b)

Soprano, oboe, fagotto, strings, 2 horns

Score:

http://imslp.org/wiki/Popoli_di_Tessaglia,_K.316/300b_%28Mozart,_Wolfgang_Amadeus%29

YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieauxN9udUc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMR96G8gxm4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HtNxO0cV8w&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpmjLtgMai8&feature=related

The first performance from 1956, demonstrates the art of Fernand Oubradous on the French basson, now an endangered species of instrument.

 

Mass in C KV 337

Agnus Dei,

Soprano, oboe, fagotto, organ, 2 vln, continuo

Score, pp 33-37:

http://imslp.org/wiki/Missa_solemnis_in_C_major,_K.337_%28Mozart,_Wolfgang_Amadeus%29

YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gjTHRHoqfg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGqGiCSyqrI

 

Vesperae solennes de confessore KV 339

Laudate dominum.

Soprano, SATB, strings, fagotto ad libitum

Score, pp 35-41:

http://imslp.org/wiki/Vesperae_solennes_de_confessore,_K.339_%28Mozart,_Wolfgang_Amadeus%29

YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U380J_NHqs&feature=fvw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm-sCJklAPc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDpcbUNC2f4&feature=related

 

Zaide KV 344 (336b)

Aria #3 “Ruhe sanft”

Soprano, oboe solo, fagotto solo, strings.

Score, pp 7-12:

http://imslp.org/wiki/Zaide,_K.344/336b_%28Mozart,_Wolfgang_Amadeus%29

YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhXUlCVLgdg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtW6P7jsLhk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrT5ErjxP8w&feature=related

 

Idomeneo KV 366

Aria #11 “Se il padre perdei”

Soprano, obbl flute, oboe, fagotto, horn, strings

Score:

http://imslp.org/wiki/Idomeneo,_K.366_%28Mozart,_Wolfgang_Amadeus%29

Keyboard reduction on-line.

YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBts87xrrXk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8gs2LbCmpc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCl4ORpil80

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x4lQfuChfw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaR84b8Mdrg&feature=related

 

Nehmt meinen Dank Aria KV 383

Soprano, flauto, oboe, fagotto, strings

Score:

http://imslp.org/wiki/Nehmt_meinen_Dank,_K.383_%28Mozart,_Wolfgang_Amadeus%29

YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rxR5xKUiWw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9egR7fT6D8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpvBTkrNNKk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JzTXdkG71I&feature=related

 

Mass in C KV 427 Et incarnatus est,

Soprano, flute, oboe, fagotto, strings, continuo

Score, pp 117-125.:

http://imslp.org/wiki/Mass_in_C_minor,_K.427/417a_%28Mozart,_Wolfgang_Amadeus%29

YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJJT108WZ7o&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w94olqcuFZw&feature=related

 

Davide penitente K 469 “A te, fra tanti affanni”

“In you, in such tribulation, I sought mercy O Lord”

Tenor, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, orch.

"Fra l'oscure ombre funeste", soprano, orchestra

Score, pp 46-57, 70-83.

http://imslp.org/wiki/Davidde_Penitente,_K.469_%28Mozart,_Wolfgang_Amadeus%29

YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QLqn1Zv6NI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkcLWJB-c70

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr6iYmQbUdo

 

Mandina amabile, Terzetto KV 480

Soprano, tenor, bass, 2 clarinets, 2 fagotti, orch

Score:

http://imslp.org/wiki/Mandina_amabile,_K.480_%28Mozart,_Wolfgang_Amadeus%29

YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6HtPma83Cc

 

Marriage of Figaro KV 492

Duettino  Act 3 "Che soave" 'Wenn des Abends Zefiretten"

Two Sopranos, oboe, bassoon, strings

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr-_JmwifMA (+1.10 min)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7LZVc86NEk (+7.10 min)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv0Abvvv2yU

Aria Act 4 Aria “O säume nicht” “Deh vieni”

Soprano, flute, oboe, bassoon, strings

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOjSPxzY37s&feature=related (+1.25 min)

Score:

http://imslp.org/wiki/Le_nozze_di_Figaro,_K.492_%28Mozart,_Wolfgang_Amadeus%29

 

Two arias substituted into the Wiener Aufführung, 1789:

Aria  Act 2 "Un mota di gioia" "An emotion of joy"

Soprano, flute, oboe, bassoon, strings, horns

Substituted for "Venite inginocchiatevi", also in some modern performances.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPQHrPPxsRQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrYbkrphcos

Aria Act 4 "Al desio di chi t'adora" "To the desire of she who adores you"

Soprano, 2 basset-horns, bassoon, horn, strings

Substituted for "Deh vieni", also in some modern performances.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdDZQ9X1ue4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13WG0oP9pDs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7Hshwi9wVY&feature=related

Both "exchange" arias are in the Neue Mozart Ausgabe, Figaro vol 2, pp 597-617.

Reference: Parker, R.  "Remaking the song"  Univ Calif Press 2006, pp 42-66.

 

Acis and Galatea K 566 (after Handel)

"Schäfer, was suchst du so ängstlich", tenor, bassoons, strings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXLYPHR1PtU

“Strebst du nach der zarten Schönen”, tenor, flute, bassoon, strings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAMuekwHB5c&feature=related

Aria and chorus “So ist mein Acis denn dahin”

Soprano, ATTB, clarinets, bassoons, horns, strings.

 

Cosi fan tutti KV 588

Aria, Despina, Act 2, #19, “Schon ein Mädchen von fünfzehn Jahren”

“Una donna a quindici anni”  “At fifteen a woman should know the ways of the world”

Soprano, flute, bassoon, horns, strings.

Score:

http://imslp.org/wiki/Cos%C3%AC_fan_tutte,_K.588_%28Mozart,_Wolfgang_Amadeus%29

 YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi70jIM_mxw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1A4JXgOfh0&feature=related