Program Notes

Concertino, Opus 26

Carl Maria von Weber, composer

Concertino, Opus 26 by Carl Maria von Weber is one of the great works of the clarinetist’s repertoire. Its first performance was on April 5, 1811, and the concert was such a success that the composer was commissioned to write two more selections for the clarinet. These fine works brought even greater fame to Weber, already a highly respected composer, and established the clarinet as a leading instrument for the expression of Romantic music. This concertino remains to this day the most popular solo in the clarinetist’s repertoire. The work opens with a slow introduction and proceeds to a leisurely theme followed by several contrasting sections.

—Band Music Notes

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