Crusell, the composer and clarinetist, was largely self-taught on the clarinet until 1798 when he received competent instruction from the legendary clarinet pioneer Franz Tausch in Berlin.
Instruments
Crusell's clarinet, made by Grenser and Wiesner in Dresden, had between 8 and 11 keys, and he initially played with the mouthpiece reed upturned.
Composer Biography
Crusell translated many operas into Swedish, including "The Marriage of Figaro" and "Fidelio," and was elected to the leading Swedish literary circle, the Gottrie Society.
Composer Biography
Crusell, a clarinet virtuoso, received his first lessons on an instrument with only two keys from a military musician at the age of 12.
Critical Reception
Crusell's tone was described by many contemporaries as masterly and extremely beautiful; his son-in-law, the bassoon virtuoso F. Pleumayr, wished to "exchange all the clarinettists in Paris for a single note ftom Papa"!
Critical Reception
Crusell's clarinet concertos, after a long period of neglect, have recently begun to be considered a highlight of the clarinet repertoire.
Composer Biography
Bernhard Henrik Crusell, the composer, was born into a poor bookbinder's home in Uusikaupunki, a town then part of a Swedish province.
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Weber : Clarinet Concertos 1 & 2/Concertino in E flat/Clarinet Quintet
Weber: Clarinet Concertos Nos. 1 and 2
Crusell: Clarinet Concertos Nos. 1, 2 & 3
Weber: Concertos For Clarinet And Orchestra
Spohr: The Forgotten Master — 4 Concertos for Clarinet
