Two treats: Brahms and Galaxy Su.

It is Tuesday, and we are at Marlboro, looking at the program - ooh- the Brahms Clarinet Quintet with Yuhsin Galaxy Su on clarinet! We heard Galaxy Su last summer, and I raved about her in this blog. And this Brahms Quintet is a favorite. Here is what the notes say about it: When Brahms composed his Clarinet Quintet in B Minor, only a handful of works for the same instrumentation had been composed, perhaps the most well-known being Mozart’s (1789) and Carl Maria von Weber’s (1815). Brahms wrote the work for the renowned clarinetist Richard Mühlfeld, to whom Brahms was introduced by the likewise eminent German conductor Hans von Bülow, also a friend and supporter of Brahms’s work. Reportedly, Brahms had retired from composing before hearing Mühlfeld perform in March of 1891 but was so enamored of his playing that he composed the Quintet during his summer holiday that year. It was also during that summer that Brahms wrote his Clarinet Trio Op. 114, and later composed his two Clarinet Sonatas, Op. 120, all of which were written for Mühlfeld. The Clarinet Quintet was first given a private, then a public premiere by Mühlfeld in late 1891. The Quintet was immensely popular and was subsequently given performances both by the original ensemble and others across Europe. The popularity of Brahms’s Clarinet Quintet can be observed in its frequent presence on Marlboro programs; it was first performed here in 1955, and tonight’s performance marks its twenty-second appearance on a Marlboro program since. Galaxy Su plays the clarinet unlike anyone else I have heard. The clarinet is not an instrument for her, it is an integral part of her body. She is amazing. The other players in the Quintet are all strings: Yebin Yoo, violin; David Bernat, violin; Yuchen Lu, viola; and Alice Neary, cello.

The Brahms Clarinet Quintet at Marlboro today.

Yuhsin Galaxy Su clarinet.

Yebin Yoo, violin.

David Bernat, violin.

Yuchen Lu, viola.

Alice Neary, cello.*************************** Yesterday, we had a quiet day at home. I did something to a muscle in my hip, and I could not lift my left leg without extreme pain. So it was hard to go anywhere. I was able to get some things done on the phone - such as making an appointment with Physical Therapy. But the earliest date I could get was in September! Sunday was the Union Service in Dummerston, and the choir sang Elijah Rock under Mary's direction. ELlen and I had just sung it in River Singers, under Kathy Bullock, so we knew it well. The choir was augmented by other churches, so we sounded good. John came to church, and then to the house after church, so that was a good day. We always have an interesting visit. This time John was sharing memories of an earlier time at Brown and afterward. I forget just what led us into that, but it is always interesting to be taken back to an earlier time and its peculiar issues.