32 Rose Etudes - Clarinet

Most of the music for Cyrille Rose's 32 Etudes was originally composed for the oboe by Franz Wilhelm Ferling. First published in 1840, Ferling's 48 Studies, op. 31, includes slow lyrical studies as well as virtuosic technical etudes in each major and relative minor tonality. While maintaining the basic melodic structure by Ferling, Rose expanded the range to include the lower notes of the clarinet and changed some of the technical requirements. A direct comparison with Ferling is not easy since Rose transposed the keys and often made the etudes longer than those of Ferling.

In this new edition, edited by John Anderson, a small number of notes and accidentals have been changed to correspond better with the original melodies in Ferling. Music composition is a living thing and can be seen in various lights and angles, even by the same performer at different times. Several "suggestions" concerning interpretation and Rose's 32 Etudes are also included. Hopefully these will become guidelines (but not "rules") for approaching other works.