Augarde Air Varie for Clarinet and String Orchestra

H. Augarde: Air Varié (Solo Clarinet & String Orchestra)

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 sets the solo clarinet against a string orchestra rather than a piano reduction, giving the soloist a genuinely concerto-like experience and the strings a part worth playing.

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 string orchestra writing does more than fill harmonic space: the strings respond to and shape the solo line, adding warmth during the lyrical variations and rhythmic energy in the more animated ones, making this a rewarding ensemble experience on both sides.

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 youth or community orchestra concert or alongside shorter works in a mixed recital programme.

See and hear the difference

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

Key features

• Instrumentation: Solo Clarinet + String Orchestra (Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Violoncello, Double Bass)
• Difficulty: Diploma / Professional
• Duration: approximately 8 minutes
• Format: PDF download, full score and all parts

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; string orchestras wanting a solo vehicle with an attractive, well-balanced accompaniment that is gratifying to play in its own right; and festival or competition programmes where something less familiar than the mainstream concerto repertoire will stand out.