Here is a collection of music for clarinet and/or horn with piano that, aside from the relative novelty of the combinations, is fascinating for the comparisons it presents between two little-known romantic composers and two giants from the same era.

Carl Reinecke (1824-1910) was a prolific and well-respected composer during his lifetime. He was on good personal terms with the Schumanns, Mendelssohn, Brahms and Liszt and was a popular and sympathetic teacher. He composed in just about every genre and, though he was staunchly conservative in his musical vocabulary, his operas are said to bear a degree of Wagnerian influence.

Reinecke'sTrio in B-flat for clarinet, horn and piano, op. 274 is palpably influenced by Brahms. It's a solid piece of work in every way, though it does lack the stamp of genius we associate with Brahms and composers of similar rank, It will appeal mainly to those fond of wind music or generic romantic repertoire. For such people it will be a treat, particularly given the beautiful playing of clarinettist James Campbell, horn player James Sommerville and pianist Rena Sharon.

Norbert Burgmüller (1810-1836) and Schubert shared a number of qualitis, the most notable being the gift of melodic invention. Like Schubert, Burgmüller lived in poverty that was due, in part at least, to a lack of worldly ambition. Burgmüllerdied at the age of twenty-six; Schubert made it to thirty-one.

Just as Reinecke cannot be too closely compared with Brahms, it would be a mistake to call Burgmüller a lesser Schubert. He had neither the latter's depth of originality nor drive as a composer. His Duo for clarinet and piano, op. 15 is an exceptionally melodic work, but only in its last movement does the beauty of the melody transcend the composer's sentimental tendencies.

Clarinettist Campbell and pianist Stéphan Sylvestre play the music for all it's worth, though, and the results are definitely enjoyable.

Little need be said about the Schumann and Mendelssohn. Though the music by them presented in this collection doesn't present either composer at the height of his powers, there is an unmistakably higher level of sophistication and confidence than with Reinecke or Burgmüller.

T he players bring out the very best in the music, making this release a real pleasure, notwithstanding the variable quality of the pieces they play.