Conradin Kreutzer’s Quartet for Clarinet and Strings was published by the Viennese firm of Steiner in 1834 and was composed perhaps a year or two before that. Composers of chamber works for a wind instrument and strings from this era, Carl Maria von Weber being a prime example, almost always had a virtuoso on the particular instrument in mind. While the manuscript in the library of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna bears no dedication, it is probable that Kreutzer was thinking of one of the great clarinet soloists of the time such as Heinrich Baermann or his son Carl or perhaps Iwan Mueller. The work is in three movements. The genial opening Allegro recalls the style of Weber, after a series of loud chords, leads to the first theme given to the clarinet. Later there is interplay between the strings and the clarinet. The second movement, Andante grazioso, is a lovely series of lyrical themes. The finale, a jovial Rondo, allegro moderato, is a pleasant Weberesque affair.
Conradin Kreutzer (1780-1849) was born in the German town of Messkirch. He studied violin, clarinet, oboe, organ and piano as well voice as a young man. After briefly studying law in Freiburg, he went to Vienna where he studied composition with Albrechtsberger, one of Beethoven’s teachers. He enjoyed a career as a composers and music director holding posts in Vienna, Stuttgart, Cologne and a number of other German cities. Today, if he is remembered at all, it is for his opera Der Nachtlager von Granada. However, in his time, his chamber music was highly thought of and often performed. He was a gifted melodist and his style is that of the late classical and early romantic era and in many ways resembles that of Carl Maria von Weber.