The Rondino, by Albert D. Schmutz, limits the bass clarinet to a narrow range, similar to that employed in "Deepwood", but makes stronger demands on articulation and incisiveness. The range used is two octaves and a major second, extending from F to f-sharp'. The lower half of the range predominates. Use of the compass is proportioned as follows:

French notation is employed. Frequent short bursts of rapid notes, often staccato, as well as sharply articulated octave skips, call for a bouncy agility in the aggressively tempestuous portions of the piece.

The piece is in the A-B-A for of a traditional scherzo movement in 3/4 time, with a tempo indication of presto (♩= 180). The incisive outer sections of the scherzo, which is 291 measures in length, are in E minor, while the more flowing, waltz-like middle section is in E major. A dynamic range of p to f is indicated.

Albert D. Schmutz, born in Halstead, Kansas in 1887, served as director of the music department of Bethel College in Newton, Kansas and of the Kansas State Teachers College. He also served on the faculty of the National Music Camp in Interlochen, Michigan. He composed several pieces for band, a choral work on Robert Frost's poem "Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening," and solos for the clarinet and saxophone.¹ Although it bears no dedication, Rondino was probably written with the bass clarinetists of the bands which he directed in mind.

¹ Contemporary American Composer: A Biographical Dictionary, s.v. "Albert D. Schmutz."