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The Clarinet in the Classical Period.

Article Excerpt
The Clarinet in the Classical Period. By Albert R. Rice. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003. [xx, 316 p. ISBN 019514483X. $74.] Music examples, illustrations, references, index.

Albert Rice, author of The Baroque Clarinet (New York: Oxford University Press, 1992), once again tackles the history of the clarinet, this time focusing on the instrument's role in the classical era. For many, this is when the modern clarinet came into existence, but what is not well known is the evolution of the instrument. Rice organizes a vast amount of data into a logical and coherent format with each chapter focusing on a particular topic (e.g., historical development, playing techniques, repertoire), and each topic is presented in a similar format broken down by country, year, and, in some instances, relevant individuals who made significant contributions. The amount of detail presented is at times overwhelming, and it is clearly evident that Rice, spent considerable time researching this book. He not only names specific pieces, composers and...