A Historical, Contextual, and Theoretical Analysis of Masterworks in the Clarinet Repertoire, 1791-1994 (thesis)

Abstract

This paper presents a multifaceted analysis of seven clarinet solo works performed on my May 1, 2021 senior recital. For each piece, I provide historical background on the composer, place the piece in context of the composer's output and broader musical styles, and engage in detailed theoretical analysis. Owing to the robust French contributions to the clarinet literature and pedagogy, I focus my in-depth theoretical analysis on the three French works performed on my recital. Taken as a whole, this analysis reveals the evolution in composers' approaches to harnessing the tonal and technical capabilities of the clarinet over a span of three centuries.