The 3 Wind Quintets of Giuseppe Cambini

The 3 Wind Quintets of Giuseppe Maria Cambini

Scores and Parts Created from the Early 19th-Century Sources
Charles-David Lehrer, General Editor

Quintet No. 1

Giuseppe Maria Cambini: Quintet No. 1 in Bb Major
Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, and Bassoon

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The first quintet calls for clarinet is in Bb, while the horn is crooked in Eb throughout. In the outer movements of the 19th-century part, the horn has no key signature for G major; instead, Cambini writes in the missing F# as an accidental. An extra part was supplied for an additional clarinet in Bb, to be used in case an oboist was not available.

First Movement

The initial movement proceeds in a Ritornello-Sonata Form, whose exposition contains a ritornello [Theme1], three primary themes [Themes 2, 3 and 4], and a set of two closing themes [4k1 and 4k2]. After a most-impressive unison ritornello, Theme 2 appears in an episode played by clarinet solo. The ritornello occurs once again, still in the tonic, after which a rather abrupt move to the dominant brings us to a second episode containing Theme 3 which begins in the oboe. Theme 4, like Theme 3, is distributed among all the instruments as are the two tonicizing closing themes.

A short development section based on the ritornello ensues, beginning with the ritornello itself in the relative minor of the dominant, followed by a second presentation in the tonic, after which fragmentation and an additional theme for horn solo [Theme 5] take over in the subdominant. Once again we have an episode.

The recapitulation of the materials from the exposition is somewhat modified: after the ritornello, Theme 2 in the clarinet and a new Theme 6 in the bassoon are heard before the two closing themes end the movement.

The exposition and development-recapitulation are each repeated, as this movement is rooted in binary form.

The overall structure may be summarized:

Exposition
Ritornello in I: Theme 1
1st Episode in I: Theme 2: clarinet solo
Ritornello in I: Theme 1
2nd Episode in V: Theme 3; Theme 4; closing themes 4k1 and 4k2

Development and Recapitulation
Ritornello in vi of V and I: Theme 1
3rd Episode in IV: fragmentation of Theme 1; Theme 5: horn solo

Ritornello in I: Theme 1
4th Episode in I: Theme 2: clarinet solo; Theme 6: bassoon solo;
closing themes 4k1 and 4k2

To be sure, the compositional technique of the Sinfonia Concertante is the basis of Cambini’s procedures in this movement. In fact, he is known to have composed 82 works in that genre.

Second Movement

Set in the subdominant, Eb major, the slow movement has an indication that the C [4/4] meter is to be taken alla breve [2/2]. This is a puzzling marking because the movement is clearly in four.

As to the thematic material, the horn, still crooked in Eb, now plays in C major, its home key; therefore, Cambini is at leisure to allot an important solo to it, and this occurs right at the opening. The structure is that of a rondo, two couplets being enclosed by three repetitions of the refrain. A transition leads to the dominant of Bb major, the key of the rondo finale. Although the movement moves primarily in 4/4, it is filled with 12/8 accompaniment, that is to say, subdivision of the beat by three.

Third Movement

The finale is a Menuetto in rondo format. It contains three couplets surrounded by four presentations of the refrain as follows:

Refrain AABA k: clarinet & flute
1st Couplet
Refrain A: oboe
2nd Couplet
Refrain ABA: bassoon & horn
3rd Couplet
Refrain AABA k: clarinet & flute

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