This practical guide is intended for all clarinet devotees with an interest in historical performance, whether as professionals, students, enthusiastic concert-goers, discriminating listeners or players of modern instruments seeking advice about those matters of style, approach and general technique which combine to make up a well-grounded period interpretation. The art of music is indeed notoriously difficult to describe in words, and there were inevitably numerous conventions which theorists simply took for granted. However, primary sources can be a great inspiration, whether on a philosophical or a practical level. Above all, we should never forget that in Mozart's day the performer's foremost aim was to move an audience.

Treatises can illuminate the history of music in a variety of unexpected ways. For example, Joseph Fröhlich's Vollständige theoretisch-praktische Musikschule (Bonn, 1810–11) has the following advice for the wind-player. He recommends a moderate life-style and avoidance of anything which could damage the chest, such as running, riding on horseback or excessive indulgence in hot drinks. One should not practise after a meal and so the afternoon is best avoided; furthermore, one should not drink immediately after practising if the lungs are still warm, since this has been the cause of early deaths with many people. In the case of dry lips — very bad for the embouchure — the mouth should be rinsed, preferably with an alcoholic beverage to give the lips new strength.