Sources in our Collection

The British clarinettist Pamela Weston, who researched and collected untiringly important documents concerning the history of the clarinet, donated her archive to our Collection. Some of these sources for clarinet history can be seen here. Henry Lazarus (1815-1895) was the most famous clarinettist and basset-horn player of the 19th century. He used a variety of clarinets e.g. a simple system pair of Key, clarinets by Fieldhouse and Albert instruments. He also played on a Boehm basset-horn. His simple-system clarinet is preserved in the our Collection.

Henry Lazarus (1815-1895)

Julian Egerton (1848-1945) was the first English clarinettist to perform the Brahms Quintet (1892). He was first clarinettist under Dannreuther, Manns, Richter and Sullivan and played in the private bands of Queen Victoria and King Edward VII. Among his pupils were Charles and Haydn Draper. His instruments, simple-system 13-key clarinets of ebonite, made by Fieldhouse are preserved in the Edinburgh Collection of Historic Musical Instruments.

Julian Egerton (1848-1945) Julian Egerton (1848-1945)

Charles Draper (1869-1952) once was aptly called the Grandfather of English Clarinettists. Draper studied with the well-known Henry Lazarus and Julian Egerton. Influenced by the playing of Manual Gomez he changed from the simple system to the Boehm clarinet. Among other appointments he played in Queen Victora's private band. As a teacher he had a profound influence on the English clarinet style, a style which he derived from the playing of Mühlfeld whom he heard performing Brahms's works for the clarinet. His pupils included Frederick Thurston and his nephew Haydn Draper.

Charles Draper (1869-1952)

Reginald Kell (1906-1981) won a scholarship to study with Haydn Draper at the Royal Academy of Music from 1929 to 1932. He was principal clarinettist in several British orchestras before emigrating to the USA, where he taught, made recordings and published a Kell Method. His Boehm clarinets are preserved in our collection. Peanuts Hucko, Jose Ferrer und Harrison Birtwistle and Benny Goodman for example studied with Kell.

Reginald Kell (1906-1981)

In 1873 Richard Mühlfeld (1856-1907) joined the outstanding Meininger Hofkapelle as a violinist and changed to the clarinet three years later. His marvellous playing inspired Johannes Brahms to compose his Trio op.114, his Quintet op.115 and the two sonatas op.120.

Richard Mühlfeld (1856-1907) In appreciation and friendship Johannes Brahms gave a set of fine silver tea-spoons with monogram to Richard Mühlfeld. One of them was given to Pamela Weston who donated it to our collection.

The concerts given by Richard Mülfeld (1856-1907) and the Joachim Quartet in London were of great importance for the musical life in Great Britain, because they aroused a renaissance of the instrument. The program of the 12th May 1906 carries the signatures of Joseph Joachim, Carl Halir, Alfred Gibson and Robert Hausmann.

In this letter Mühlfeld dwells upon clarinet tutors and clarinet makers of his time to an unknown addressee. He recommends the tutors of Karl Baermann and Robert Stark and the clarinets made by Oskar Oehler in Berlin. (Copy of the original letter in the Archiv der Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien)

Johann Georg Heinrich Backofen (1768-1830) was an example of a 19th-century polymath. He was an outstanding clarinettist and basset-horn player, composer, harp-player, painter (the picture is a self portrait), and translator. He wrote famous works for the harp and the first German clarinet tutor. In 1815 he founded a wind instrument workshop in Darmstadt.

Johann Georg Heinrich Backofen (1768-1830)

 

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Contents of the Clarinet Web Guide