An intermediate level arrangement for clarinet quintet of a movement from a Mendelssohn organ sonata. Scored for 4 clarinets in Bb and a bass clarinet, individual parts for instrumentalists are appended to the full score available as a pdf download from PlentyMusic. This is the second movement from the Organ Sonata Opus 65 No.3 transposed to sound in the key of Bb. It is essentially a chorale or hymn much in keeping with the chorale of J. S. Bach although Mendelssohn’s harmonic language is chromatic rather than diatonic. There is opportunity to slow down and pause at the ends of phrases although there is only one such marking in the sheet music score. There are some octave transpositions in the flute and oboe parts. Playing chorale arrangements like this are excellent for developing ensemble playing and good intonation. A generally quiet movement, clarinet players should be aiming for a legato in their playing. The realisation plays back at 72 quarter note beats to the minute. mp3 accompaniments are available playing at 72, 76 and 80 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute enabling clarinet in Bb 1 players to participate in ensemble activities as part of their practice routines. Should there be a requirement for a clarinet in Eb part to substitute for the Clarinet in Bb 1 part please advise the PlentyMusic office. Mendelssohn was an extremely popular composer in England. Described as a romantic composer he leans more to the classical line of the tradition along with composers Schubert (1797 – 1828) Chopin (1810 – 1849) and Brahms (1833- 1897) rather than the more radical represented by Berlioz (1803 – 1869), Liszt (1811 – 1886), and Wagner (1813-1883). Schumann (1810 - 1856) is the composer who interestingly links the two threads.
