Augarde Air Varie for Clarinet and Piano

H. Augarde: Air Varié (Clarinet & Piano)

Air Varié is a well-crafted Victorian concert solo in theme-and-variations form: a singing main theme followed by contrasting episodes that develop tone, articulation, and musical character, with a natural sense of pacing that carries the listener from beginning to end without effort. This edition presents the piece in its original form, with piano accompaniment, as Augarde intended it.

H. Augarde is the pseudonym of Charles Arthur Rawlings (1857–1919), a London-based composer who published prolifically under dozens of pen names. That his music was designed to work, for performers and audiences alike, is evident throughout: each variation in Air Varié has a distinct character, the gestures lie naturally under the fingers, and nothing is there simply for display. The writing asks for a singing tone across registers, clean articulation in the faster episodes, and the phrasing instincts that come with sustained musical concentration. The piano part is a genuine accompaniment rather than a backdrop: it shapes the harmony, underlines the character of each variation, and gives the clarinettist something to play with rather than simply play over.

At around eight minutes, it is a well-proportioned recital piece, long enough to make a real impression without outstaying its welcome, and well-suited as a solo centrepiece in a mixed recital programme or alongside shorter works in a festival or competition setting.

See and hear the difference

Check the score and part preview images above, then watch the complete score video below. They'll give you a clear sense of the engraving quality, the piano writing, and the shape of each variation before you buy.

Key features

• Instrumentation: Clarinet + Piano
• Difficulty: Diploma / Professional
• Duration: approximately 8 minutes
• Format: PDF download, full score and piano part

Who it's for

Air Varié suits conservatoire and diploma-level clarinettists looking for a characterful Victorian showpiece that stands apart from the standard recital repertoire; piano accompanists wanting a part with genuine musical interest; and festival or competition programmes where something less familiar than the mainstream repertoire will stand out.