Composer: Meyerbeer, Giacomo, 1791-1864
Country of origin: Germany
Title: Quintett für Klarinette, 2 Violinen, Viola, und Violoncello
Other titles: Sonate pour la clarinette avec accompagnement de 2 violons, alto & violoncelle; Quintet for Clarinet, 2 Violins, and Violoncello
Movements: Allegro moderato; Adagio - Andante; Rondo - Allegro scherzando
Year(s) composed: 1813
Publisher: Bärenreiter
Duration (in minutes): 20
Clarinet type: B-flat
Note: See comment below
The recording made by Dieter Kloecker in 1989 (Orfeo) includes an extra movement which was not contained in the score. This movement is by Heinrich Baermann, and is No. 2 from Trois air varies, op12. This work is available on IMSLP in an arrangement for clarinet and piano published by Simrock c.1810. Orchestral cues in the clarinet part and the indications ‘solo’ and ‘tutti’ in the piano part indicate that this work was originally with orchestra. Those parts are preserved in the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (https://opacplus.bsb-muenchen.de/title/BV007760583). On the recording Kloecker uses only the string parts, and in several passages the clarinet and first violin swap parts to give a more conversational, chamber music like character. Kloecker made no claim that the movement was by Meyerbeer, simply that it was to be found in parts inserted into the score, and that it “belonged to the quintet”.
When Kloecker published the work in 2001 (Baerenreiter) he did not include the extra movement, and it is not mentioned in the detailed preface. By then Himie Voxman and R.P. Block had published this movement under its correct name and composer (Southern Music, 1989).