Bass clarinet music: a growing repertoire

While not as popular as the b flat clarinet, there is a growing body of bass clarinet music for the clarinetist who wishes to specialize in the bass instrument. Many clarinet choirs now feature solos for bass clarinet, and many traditional clarinet concertos are being rewritten for the bass clarinet player looking for solo repertoire.

One part of the clarinet repertoire where the bass player can play music written specifically for their instrument is orchestral music. While it is important for bass clarinetist to know much of this music because it is regularly required for auditions, there are many pieces in the orchestral repertoire that are interesting and beautiful music in their own right. The composers who have written interesting music for the bass clarinet ranges from Liszt, Mahler and Tchaikovsky to Berg, Hindemith and Barber.

While much of the solo music available to the bass clarinet are still variations of pieces written for other instruments, some modern composers have written pieces specifically for solo bass clarinet. Much of this music makes use of the combination of bass clarinet and chamber orchestra or small ensemble, such as music written by Ann Callaway. Other composers who have written music for the bass clarinet include the Australian composers Gerard Brophy and Nigel Westlake, who both pair the bass clarinet with small ensembles; and the Dutch composer Norbert Wissing.
 

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