This dissertation is an analytical comparison of the works for solo clarinet by Paul Hindemith and his student Arnold Cooke. A total of seven compositions are studied and analyzed for style, covering aspects of melody, harmony, rhythm, form, and texture. From this data, conclusions concerning the accessibility of Cooke's music for solo clarinet to the player and listener are made. Although Hindemith's music for solo clarinet is more often played, it is this author's conclusion that Cooke's works are more satisfactory in their accessibility and ease of performance.

The dissertation consists of four recitals: repertoire consisting of solo compositions, music for clarinet alone, chamber music, and one lecture recital. The repertoire of these programs was chosen with the intention of demonstrating the capability of the performer to deal with problems arising in works of varying types and of different historical periods. The lecture recital, The D Major Clarinet Concerto by Theodor von Schacht, discusses background for the development of the clarinet in different pitches and gives pertinent bibliographical and historical information on the life and works of Theodor von Schacht. A formal and stylistic analysis is then followed by a short discussion of the problems involved in the transcription and performance of the work: possibly the first solo concerto ever written for the clarinet in A. The lecture concludes with the first performance of The D Major Clarinet Concerto for clarinet in A with orchestral accompaniment reduced for piano.