Clarinet Sonata No. 2 in E‑Flat Major

Dedicated to “the master of his beautiful instrument, in sincerely grateful remembrance”, Brahms’ two clarinet sonatas were composed for acclaimed German clarinettist Richard Mühlfeld. A former violinist in the Meiningen court orchestra, the self-taught Mühlfeld had been appointed its principal player within three years of taking up the clarinet. Brahms so admired his performances of Mozart and Weber that he invited Mühlfeld to play for him at home, and despite having only recently resolved to give up composing, found his creative facility returning. The resulting Clarinet Trio and Quintet (both 1891) were followed three years later by a pair of clarinet sonatas that typify Brahms’ late autumnal style, in which emotional extremes are often gently cushioned by a sense of nostalgic longing. Nowhere is this more evident than in Clarinet Sonata No. 2, whose central “Allegro appassionato” in E-flat minor tantalisingly fuses disquiet with calm acceptance. The outer movements (the finale is cast as a theme and five variations) share a glowing sense of lyrical contentedness and wistful resignation.