In Conversation with Music of the Baroque Musicians

January’s "Musical Patrons" program includes a treat for Music of the Baroque audiences: the clarinet! The clarinet developed later than the other woodwinds, so most Baroque orchestral repertoire does not include them. But on January 24 and 25, clarinetists Steve Cohen and Daniel Won will join the Music of the Baroque Orchestra for Mozart’s Haffner Symphony. To celebrate our clarinets' only appearance this season, we talked to Steve about playing Baroque music, how Mozart shaped the destiny of the clarinet, and what he’s most looking forward to in 2016.

Steve Cohen is Associate Professor of Clarinet at Northwestern University, and was the principal clarinetist of the New Orleans Symphony for thirty years. He was interviewed by Marketing Coordinator Ellen McSweeney.

Steve, thank you for taking the time to talk with us. Absolutely. I love playing with Music of the Baroque. We are looking forward to our concert this year. It’s always a treat and never taken for granted, since it is a Baroque program and we clarinets were mostly not around then.

Right – the clarinet isn’t heard very much in Baroque music. From your perspective, what does the clarinet section bring that no other instrument can? I think the clarinet adds a different and new flavor to the traditional Baroque orchestra.  It's a bit darker in sound, and is generally used in a more lyrical way.  Earlier music used the clarinet in a more trumpet-like role, but as it developed, the full range of its potential quickly became evident to composers like Mozart.

I read today that Mozart first heard the clarinet in 1777. What impact did Mozart have on the development of the clarinet repertoire? There is no doubt that Mozart brought the clarinet to its place of prominence and there was really no turning back.  We [clarinetists] love the nuance of those earlier woodwind instruments and we try to emulate them in many ways, but we also offer a new sound and a new potential. Mozart wrote his clarinet concerto almost at the end of his life and it is still the benchmark for us as musicians. He utilized the instrument’s easy virtuosity and beautiful lyrical qualities in equal measure. Just listen to the 2nd movement--it is hard not to be moved, in my opinion. Mozart is simply our hero for having written the concerto, his glorious quintet for clarinet and string quartet, and several other works that really cemented our instrument's place as a regular member of the orchestra.

What has been your favorite piece or concert with Music of the Baroque? I think one of the most fun pieces I played with MOB was a number of years ago when we did the Mozart Serenade K361, the Gran Partita.  It was, as is much of this type of music, party music by design.  However, coming from Mozart, it was clearly something that would take its place as a mainstay of the wind or harmony music repertoire.  Playing anything by Mozart with Jane Glover is also a thrill. She brings such life to it, and always makes it so relevant and exciting.

Steve: “This picture was taken at Christmas with my wife and all three of our kids with their fiancés.  Two are getting married this summer.”

What are some of your favorite things to do when you’re not playing the clarinet? Since my children are not near us, my wife and I both love to see them whenever we can. The two older ones are getting married in June and August this summer. We are excited with all of those preparations and the upcoming weddings. We love traveling to see them and we also love to spend our summers in Brevard, North Carolina where I have been the principal clarinetist in the Brevard Music Center Festival for the past 37 summers.  Lots of orchestra playing, chamber music, teaching, and socializing with long-time friends and colleagues.

Steve Cohen poses with his son, Jonathan. Steve: “My son Jonathan and me- Jonathan plays clarinet in the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.  I'm awfully proud of him!”

What musical experiences are you most looking forward to in 2016? I'll be playing a bunch of chamber music and recitals this spring in the area and around the country and am looking forward to all of it.  I love playing with great friends and great colleagues.  After having played in an orchestra full-time for 30 years, this change in my musical outlet has been so refreshing and enlightening.