SC Chamber Players present "The Clarinet Ascending"

Since its invention in the early 18th century, the clarinet has evolved quickly from a rowdy (if not squawky) folk instrument to the polished, full-fledged orchestral partner that we know today. This journey was unique; the clarinet joined instruments on the concert stage that had already been performing there for centuries. Two composers in particular contributed to this singular and accelerated success: Mozart and Brahms. Both loved the clarinet; both admired the musicality of specific clarinetists; and both used the most profoundly beautiful musical language of chamber music and the string quartet to promote the clarinet. Written about a hundred years apart, these two masterpieces for clarinet and string quartet, from two of the greatest composers of all time, highlight the astounding capabilities, virtuosic technique, and melodic prowess responsible for the clarinet’s speedy musical ascent from near-obscurity to worldwide acceptance.