Capriccio for solo clarinet in A (1946) Heinrich Sutermeister

"Heinrich Sutermeister's "Capriccio" (1946) was commissioned as a competition piece for the Genoa Conservatory. The work has ideal characteristics for a competition, with two contrasting ideas throughout the piece; one is sharp and incisive staccato articulation, the other is fluent and quiet, with legato passages, both are introduced in the opening phrase.n

The first theme is developed in the opening and closing sections of the work, while the second is developed in the middle section, therefore the form is ternary (ABA').

The rough idea is characterized by an energetic, fun and rough interpretation, through successions of agile staccato notes and embellished fast passages. The other theme is much more elegant and sweet in character, exhibiting a cantabile style with wide jumps and soft nuances.

There are many sudden changes in dynamics, meter, and character, demonstrated by the notations legatissimo, spirito, grazioso, giocoso, eleganza, ruvido, and amabile, all of which contribute to its "whimsical" character.

According to one critic, this Capriccio reflects the influence of Sutermeister's works for the cinema, and it would not be difficult to establish a history of it: the playful material would represent an impatient boy, contrasting with the calm material, suggesting an adorable mother. The whimsical temperament of the work seems to evoke the character of the clarinet parts in "Peter and the Wolf" (Prokofiev) and "The Antics of Till Eulenspiegel" (R. Strauss).