The "Romanze" by Diethe was published between 1898 and 1903, and the date of its composition is uncertain.¹

Biographical information on the composer is lacking.

Stylistically, the work is reminiscent of music composed by the wind virtuosi of the second quarter of the nineteenth century in its overt display of the technical possibilities of the instrument to elaborate a simple melody. The work was originally published with a wind-octet accompaniment, which suggest an association of the composer with military bands.

This assumption is corroborated by the fact that, with the exception of the "Romanze," the seventeen published works by Diethe listed in Pazdírek's Universal-Handbuch der Musikliteratur aller Zeiten und Völker are marches and choral works, frequently with patriotic titles.² The titles of two of these works help to define the period within which Diethe was active as a composer.

The "Reville zum Constitutionsfeste 1846" indicates that he was composing during the 1840s. The "Schlacht bei Rezonville, Deutscher Siegesmarsch" refers to a battle on 16 August 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War. Diethe could therefore have been involved with military music for as long as thirty years. Yet another march title, "Beliebter Defiliers-Marsch der Kommunalgarde Leipzig," combined with the initial publication of the "Romanze" by the Liepzig firm of Merseburger, suggest that Diethe could have been attached to a unit based in that city. An early form of bass clarinet designed by G. Streitwolf was in occasional use in Hessian and Prussian military bands as early as 1833.³ The octet accompaniment, combined with the evidence provided by Diethe's other compositions suggests that "Romanze" was first performed by a bandsman, possibly using the Streitwolf's basson-shaped bass clarinet.

This is perhaps the oldest remaining work for bass clarinet composed in Germany.

One hundred fifty-three measures in length, the "Romanze" is the largest-scale work remaining from the nineteenth century, other than the aria by Neukomm. It is an adagio in F major, preceded by a quasi Recitative andante moderato in E minor. A tranquil, smooth melody, frequently with a dolce indication, appears generally in the upper register, while the lower register is used more often for forceful, dramatic effects. A dynamic range of pp to ff is indicated, with ff appearing at the lowest extremity of the range and pp appearing only in the upper register. The range of two octaves and a major sixth extends from E to d-flat''. The altissimo register is used sparingly, with only two appearances of d-flat'', near the end of the piece. The percentage of use of portions of the instrument's compass are:

Other than this sparing use of the upper register, the "Romanze" requires a fluidity and velocity equal to that in works of a similar type for the soprano clarinet.

¹ Musikalischen Literatur 12, Hofmeister, 173

² Pazdírek, U-HM 3: 688-89

³ Allgemeine Musikalische Zeitung (Leipzig) March 1834, 12: 193-94