Unlocking the pedagogical potential of Alfred Uhl’s 48 Etüden für Klarinette: a portfolio of recorded performances and exegesis

Abstract

The project aims to create a definitive set of performances of Alfred Uhl’s 48 Etüden für Klarinette (1938), one that sheds new light on the nexus between the composer’s aesthetic and philosophical beliefs, and the ways in which the studies – both individually and collectively – impact directly on the performer’s technical command, analytical acumen and musical development. The study takes the form of a set of CD recordings of the 48 Etüden supplemented by additional works by Uhl that demonstrate the ways in which the etudes unlock the technical, interpretative and expressive potential of the performer. The recordings are supported by a 15,000 word exegesis that illuminates the research methodology undertaken, and its potential future applications.