Sternenhelle Nacht

Carl Baermann, son of the clarinet virtuoso Heinrich Baermann (for whom Carl Maria von Weber wrote his Clarinet Concerto no. 1, op. 73), was born in Potsdam and was taught to play the clarinet by his father. At the age of 14 he was allowed to play in the court orchestra in Munich. He played in this orchestra for over 50 years, as well as teaching at the Munich Conservatory. In 1880 he was appointed Professor. Baermann was also involved in improving the construction of the clarinet and is still famous today for his celebrated clarinet method opus 63 and 64. The three selected pieces were written before the publication of his clarinet method. They are expressive compositions, inspired by nature, of romantic spirit. For two of the pieces, Baermann has added short comments describing the character of the music. At the beginning of ‘An Evening on the Mountains’ he explains: ‘The added notes are intended purely as a guide for the performer, relating the feelings that I experienced with these little tone pictures’. Sternenhelle Nacht (plate number 6882) was published in 1843.