Piano reductions of orchestral scores are invaluable tools for rehearsals and arguably the most frequent vehicles for modern-day performances. Piano accompanists face the arduous task of performing an orchestral reduction in a manner consistent with the integrity of the score while achieving an idiomatic sound on the keyboard. All pianists stand to gain from any study that offers practical approaches to and considerations for arriving at a sensible pianistic representation of any work originally intended for orchestra.
This study uses Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto, K. 622, to examine the most accessible editions arranged for clarinet and piano. It highlights the differences between all of the orchestral reductions and evaluates these choices from a pianist’s perspective. Furthermore, the work includes numerous side-by-side comparisons, assesses each edition in terms of its adherence to the orchestral score, and offers multiple interpretations of the most effective way to represent the orchestra within the confines of the piano.
