Bass clarinet

The bass clarinet is a musical instrument of the clarinet family. Like standard clarinets, it is usually pitched in B flat (meaning it is a transposing instrument where a written C sounds as B flat), and plays notes an octave below the "normal" B flat clarinet and an octave above the Contrabass clarinet.

Bass clarinet soloists

It was not until the 1950s that classical performers began to adopt the bass clarinet as their primary instrument. The pioneer was the Czech performer Josef Horák, who is credited as having performed the first ever solo bass clarinet recital on March 23, 1955. This marked a turning point when the instrument first became thought of as a soloist?s instrument.

Related Topics:
Czech - Josef Horák - March 23 - 1955

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Because the repertoire of solo music for the bass clarinet was quite small, most bass clarinet soloists specialize in new music, while also arranging works composed for other instruments from earlier eras (such as the Bach Cello Suites). Beginning with Horák, many players have commissioned works for the instrument, and consequently there now exists a repertoire of hundreds of solo works, many by prominent international composers such as Brian Ferneyhough. In addition to Horák, other specialist performers include Dennis Smylie (United States), Harry Sparnaay (Netherlands), Evan Ziporyn (United States), and Michael Lowenstern (United States).

Related Topics:
Brian Ferneyhough - Dennis Smylie - Harry Sparnaay - Netherlands - Evan Ziporyn - Michael Lowenstern

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In October 2005, the First World Bass Clarinet Convention will be held in Rotterdam, Netherlands, at which Horák will be the guest of honour and will play in one of the many concerts given by the leading bass clarinetists from around the world (including all the aforementioned performers, as well as many others).

Related Topics:
2005 - Rotterdam

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