Fame and clarinet: Who are the famous clarinet players? If you were to ask the man or woman on the street, they might say Kenny G. (not knowing he’s a saxophonist) or give you a really funny look and return the question - “Uh, famous clarinetists?”
This “person on the street” from the 1930s to at least the 1990s would say Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw or Woody Herman hands down. These famous clarinet players were the bandleader/clarinetists that rocked the world during the big-band era.
Go to Amazon/Bumblebee Loops to get your copy of Bumblebee Loops here.
Famous Clarinet Players - Benny Goodman
Hum? Let's get a glimse of why these clarinetists lit the world on fire with clarinet "back in the day." Here is the Benny Goodman Orchestra playing Sing, Sing, Sing featuring Gene Krupa-Drums, Harry James-Trumpet from the film Hollywood Hotel from 1937.
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Benny Goodman (Jazz Play-Along Volume 86). By Benny Goodman. For C Instruments, Bass Clef Instruments, Bb Instruments, Eb Instruments. Jazz Play Along. Play Along. Softcover with CD. 72 pages. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.843110). |
FAMOUS CLARINET PLAYERS - LEARN MORE ABOUT BENNY GOODMAN, AND MAYBE HOW TO SWING LIKE THE KING OF SWING.
Famous Clarinet Players - Artie Shaw
Then you have Artie Shaw. Below is a video of Artie Shaw’s playing his Concerto for Clarinet. You'll see and hear his stature as a clarinetist, bandleader and entertainer from the 1940 film Second Chorus.
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Artie Shaw's Jazz Technic, Book 1 - Scales & Exercises (Scales & Exercises). For clarinet. Method/Instruction; Technique Musicianship; Woodwind - Clarinet Method or Collection. Swing and Technique. Clarinet instruction book. Standard notation and instructional text. 28 pages. Published by Alfred Music (AP.EL9506). |
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Artie Shaw's Jazz Technic, Book 2 - 14 Clarinet Etudes (Fourteen Clarinet Etudes). For clarinet. Method/Instruction; Technique Musicianship; Woodwind - Clarinet Method or Collection. Swing and Instructional. Clarinet instruction book. Standard notation and instructional text. 16 pages. Published by Alfred Music (AP.EL9502). |
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The Music of Eddie Daniels (Clarinet). By Eddie Daniels. Edited by Pete Barenbregge. For clarinet solo. Artist/Personality; Lead Sheet; Woodwind - Clarinet Method or Collection. Jazz and Hard Bop. Difficulty: medium-difficult. Instrumental solo book. Standard notation. 80 pages. Published by Alfred Music (AP.0742B). |
Famous Clarinet Players - Sabine Meyer and Julian Bliss
One of clarinet's new superstars is Julian Bliss. He collaborated, and studied with, Sabine Meyer, one of the greatest German clarinetists and also one of the top clarinet soloists in the world.
There was a great promotional video in this spot before that is now off YouTube. You can still experience their amazing artistry here with the Concerto for Two Clarinets in Eb Op. 91: mvt. 1- Allegro by Franz Krommer
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Clarinet Concerto No.2 in Eb Major Op.57 Composed by Louis Spohr (1784-1859). Edited by Demnitz. For clarinet, piano. Advanced. Sheet Music. Published by Edition Peters (PE.P02098B). |
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Clarinet Concerto No. 4 in A Minor Composed by Louis Spohr (1784-1859). For Clarinet. Masterworks; Solo; Woodwind - B-Flat Clarinet Solo. Kalmus Edition. Masterwork; Romantic. Part(s). 44 pages. Published by Kalmus Classic Edition (AP.K09751). |
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Clarinet Concerto in Eb Major Op.36 Composed by Franz Krommer (1759-1831). Edited by Berlasz. For clarinet, piano. Clarinet and Piano. Published by Edition Kunzelmann (PE.GM0217). |
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Richard Stoltzman Songbook (For Clarinet and Piano). Composed by Richard Stoltzman. For clarinet and piano. All Time Favorites. 20th Century, Jazz and Contemporary Instrumental. Difficulty: medium-difficult. Piano/clarinet book (no lyrics, separate pull out part for clarinet). Introductory text and performance notes. 239 pages. Published by Carl Fischer (CF.ATF141). |
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Aria (For Clarinet and Piano). For clarinet and piano (Clarinet/Piano). Classical. Collection and set of performance parts. Performance notes. 183 pages. Published by Carl Fischer (CF.O5387). |
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Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra with harp and piano (reduction for clarinet and piano). Composed by Aaron Copland (1900-1990). For Clarinet, Piano Accompaniment. Boosey & Hawkes Chamber Music. 20th Century. Difficulty: medium. Set of performance parts. 27 pages. Boosey & Hawkes #M051580088. Published by Boosey & Hawkes (HL.48005879). |
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The Clarinet Chromatic Machine Composed by Alexander Borodin Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. For Clarinet. Softcover. Standard notation. 144 pages. Published by Carl Fischer (CF.WF46). |
Famous Clarinet Players - Orchestral players - Larry Combs, Karl Leister, and Ricardo Morales.
Watch Larry Combs, former principal of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, play this original arrangement of Schubert's Shepherd on the Rock.
Quintet in B flat major, Op. 34 for Clarinet & String By Carl Maria von Weber. Woodwind and string ensembles. Published by International Music Co. (1387) See more info... |
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Quintet Op. 34 (Clarinet) Clarinet and Piano. By Carl-Maria Von Weber. Arranged by Pamela Weston. This edition: F593. Fentone Play Along Books. 62 pages. Published by Fentone Music. (44005334) See more info... |
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The Vandoren Etude and Exercise Book Fpr Clarinet The Secrets of Ten Master Clarinetists. By David Weber; Eddie Daniels; Gary Foster; Ginger Kroft Barnetson; Greg Raden; Harry Skoler; John Bruce Yeh; Mitchell Estrin; Paquito D'rivera; Teresa Reilly. Edited by David Weber, Eddie Daniels, Gary Foster, Ginger Kroft Barnetson, Greg Raden, Harry Skoler, John Bruce Yeh, Mitchell Estrin, Paquito D'rivera, Teresa Reilly. For Clarinet Solo. Classical. Student Book. 109 pages. Published by Carl Fischer. (WF55) See more info... |
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The Buddy DeFranco Collection Clarinet. By Buddy DeFranco. Artist Transcriptions (Authentic note-for-note transcriptions). 80 pages. Published by Hal Leonard. (672423) See more info... |
Famous Clarinetists - Classic New Orleans Jazz - Sidney Bechet, Johnny Dodds, and Jimmie Noone.
Sidney Bechet – song Blue Horizon, Sidney Bechet and His Blue Note Jazzmen, December 30, 1944
As noted on the YouTube write-up:
“Listen to the fine tremolo Bechet brings out of his instrument. Like all great jazz musicians, Bechet can bring everything about a song, from the sound of his instrument to the melody itself, to the very edge, where it appears as if it might just break off, without losing control. You may not notice how sure-footed some people are until you see them prance nimbly around a cliff. Here Bechet is in command throughout the piece, which is practically all clarinet solo. Richard Hadlock recalls some musical advice Bechet gave him regarding how to produce a tone: I’m going to give you one note today, he once told me. See how many ways you can play that note—growl it, smear it, flat it, sharp it, do anything you want to it. That’s how you express your feelings in this music. It’s like talking. (quoted in Ted Gioa, The History of Jazz, p. 50).”
Hear clarinetist Johnny Dodds in Chicago in 1928 with his usual gang - Natty Dominique and George Mitchell cornets, John Thomas on trombone, Charlie Alexander piano, Bud Scott banjo, and Baby Dodds drums.
Klezmer - Dave Tarras, Andy Statman, Janfie Van Strien (clarinetist with the Amsterdam Klezmer Band)
The Andy Statman Trio (Andy on clarinet, Jim Whitney on bass and Larry Eagle on drums and percussion) performing an untitled original melody in concert, summer 2007.
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Learn to Play Klezmer Music Improvising in the Tradition. By Andy Statman. This edition: DVDSTAKL21. Homespun Tapes (Instructional). DVD . Published by Homespun. (641998) See more info... |
Bulgaria - Ivo Papazov and His Wedding Band. You need to check this out. Unbelievable playing and exciting...
Greece - Expand your horizons and sound concept with this traditional Epirus Song by Greek Clarinetist Petroloukas Chalkias.
Historical Famous Clarinet Players – Anton Stadler, Richard Muhlfeld, H. Klose, C. Rose, Ralph McLane
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18 Trios - Volume 2 By A. Stadler. Arranged by Trio Di Bassetto. For 3 bass horns, 3 Bb clarinets, or 2 Bb clarinet and 1 bass clarinet. Classical. Level: 5-6. Published by International Music Diffusion (Arpeges Diffusion) (French import). (395) See more info... |
Duo, 2 Clarinets By Anton Stadler. Arranged by Dieter Kloecker. Published by Universal Edition. (UE018260) See more info... |
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Celebrated Method For The Clarinet - Complete Edition By Hyacinthe Eleanore Klose, edited by Simeon Bellison. Instructional book for clarinet. 294 pages. Published by Carl Fischer. (CF.O304) See more info... |
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40 Studies For Clarinet - Book 1 By C. Rose. Instructional book for Clarinet. These technical etudes for developing dexterity in the advancing clarinetist have become celebrated standards. Book one presents twenty musical gems that should be part of every clarinetist's library. 24 pages. Published by Carl Fischer. (CF.O437) See more info... |
These Grammy winning recordings include soloists, chamber and jazz. As you might imagine, the recordings that win Best Classical Performance, Best Orchestral Performance, Best Choral Performance, etc… nearly all had clarinetists in the ensembles. This list does not cover these categories.
This list holds names of clarinetists who primarily play clarinet. If you are wondering where names like Paquito D’Rivera are, try Grammy winning saxophonists who also play clarinet.
THE ENVELOPE PLEASE! THE WINNERS ARE: Larry Combs, Eddie Daniels, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, Artie Shaw and Richard Stoltzman.
To see the recordings and years these players won their Grammys and a full list of nominees, go the Clarinet Grammy Awards.
Winning the position of Principal Clarinet in a major symphony orchestra is a massive undertaking. You could say it is American Idol times ten. The competition is stiff among really talented, trained and already extremely professional musicians. Imagine this, and then the fact the principal clarinetists hold onto their jobs for a long time. Now, you come into famous clarinet player range.
Especially in large cities like New York City, the principal clarinetist is Stanley Drucker. He won a post with the orchestra in 1948 and became principal in 1960. He retired in 2009 having played with the orchestra 61 years and as principal a total of 49 years. Can you imagine a professional football player still playing competitive “on the field” football for 61 years?
See Mr. Drucker here performing Weber's Concertino with the New York Philharmonic.
Find a list here of all-time principals clarinetists of the New York Philharmonic.
These famous clarinet players perform the greatest orchestral literature of all time and premiere the new works of the day. As each orchestra produces professional audio and video recordings (like Live from Lincoln Center) often, these principal clarinetists execute perfectly musical phrases both in live performance and under the microphone.
The entire section of a major symphony orchestra is “famous” to clarinet players, especially in the host city. However, I’ve only chosen to list the principals of some major orchestras here. The orchestras are listed alphabetically.
Principal clarinetists of selected major symphony orchestras
Berlin Philharmonic - Wenzel Fuchs
Boston Symphony Orchestra - William R. Hudgins
Chicago Symphony Orchestra – position open
Cleveland Orchestra – Franklin Cohen
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (Amsterdam, Netherlands) -- Jacques Meertens
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra – Richard Lesser
London Symphony Orchestra – Andrew Marinner
Los Angeles Philharmonic - Michele Zukovsky
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra – Jessica Phillips Rieske and Anthony McGill. Hear Anthony McGill performing Air and Simple Gifts by John Williams and performed on the 2009 Presidential Inauguration.
New York Philharmonic – Undecided
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra - Michael Rusinek
San Francisco Symphony Orchestra – David Breeden
My recommendation is that if you live with-in two hours drive of one of these orchestras, try to talk your parents into buying recordings of that famous clarinet player and eventually go see them in a live concert. If you live far away from any of these orchestras, look up the local orchestra in the nearest city, and find out the name of the principal clarinetist and/or whole clarinet section. Then, see if they have any recordings and better yet, see the orchestra live. Also, once you know the name of this clarinetist, seek-out master classes or clinics they might give in the area.
To see a complete list of orchestra clarinet sections of orchestras worldwide, go here.