Quintet in A Major, K. 581 - Clarinet and String Quartet (Parts)

Mozart's Clarinet Quintet was composed and first performed in 1789.  The manuscript is thought to have disappeared during the early 1800s.  Two different publishers issued it in 1802, although one of the versions may date from 1801.  It is unclear which version was actually first, but the one with the smallest number of markings, issued in Vienna, is often presumed to be first.  The solo part in this edition is for standard clarinet in A.

The fragmentary Allegro in B-flat, also for clarinet and string quartet, is from a fully written out manuscript movement in 3/4 time that suddenly breaks off.  Whether the missing pages were also fully written out or only in sketch form cannot be known.  The Henle edition at the end of the Quintet parts (HN769) shows only the actual fragment without a concert ending.  Musicologist Robert Levin has made a conjectural reconstruction of the ending so that the movement can be heard in performance, published by Baerenreiter (NMA221).  This music is playable by clarinet in B-flat.  Whether Henle or Baerenreiter, the Urtext editorial philosophy is in force, even for the reconstruction, and articulation markings must be added to make the music practical for performance, unless you enjoy machine-gunning sixteenth notes. 

A study score for the Henle edition is published separately (HN9769 or 5148769).

See Also:

Complete String Quintets with the Horn and Clarinet Quintets, Dover full score, our number 23603X

Quintet Movement in F for Clarinet, Basset Horn, and String Trio, K. Anh. 90, our number GM787