Mozart Clarinet Quintet: Theme and Variations Finale
Mozart's music is deeply felt, but he always seems to maintain plausible deniability. His style is such that in case any patron accused him, "Herr Mozart, are you using my commission for fun party music to make Serious Art?" he could respond, "My job is only to entertain, sir, and this work I did for you serves only that purpose." That defense could apply to most passages in most of his works (of course there are exceptions), even some of his absolute best. Sometimes he uses that duality in a conscious way for artistic tension, or so it seems to me. The theme and variations at the finale of the clarinet quintet uses this duality for some subtle but very satisfying moments of music. It works on the entertainment level of some relaxing good times to finish out the piece, and also on a more existential level. What you hear in it depends on what kind of experience you had listening to the three preceding movements. The second movement could be considered calm and be...