 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BassetHorn
Date: 2005-02-22 07:14
Hello, can anyone recommend some clarinet CDs that feature several members of the family? Say one that has Bb, alto, bass, contrabass, etc...
I have tried to find such recordings but having difficulties.
Also, does anyone own the CD by Hamiet Bluiett called "the Clarinet Family, Live from Germany"? Care to elaborate on the quality of music and playing?
Thanks.
Willy
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-02-22 08:04
The best CD for you would be Double Trio - Green Dolphy Suite.
It is one of the best CDs I have or have ever heard. The players are the best in the world, and the music is amazing too. It's called Double Trio because it features 2 trios. The Arcado String Trio with Mark Feldman on violin, Mark Dresser on Bass, Ernst Reijseger on Cello, and Trio De Clarinettes with Louis Sclavis (my favorite clarinetist together with Eric Dolphy) on clarinet and bass clarinet, Armand Angster on clarinet, bass clarinet and contrabass clarinet, and Jaques Di Donato on clarinet and bass clarinet.
They are all amazing players, and the compositions are just great, very interesting and original. I have to say it again, this is some of the best music I've ever heard, and I would put it up there with the best composers in history.
About The Clarinet Family, I only heard a little from that CD. I think the sound is interesting because of all the clarinets. The players are really great. The only downside for me was that the music sometimes gets a little boring. I'm not saying the music is bad, it's very good but some parts can get boring. I'll probably buy this CD eventually because I can't not have it with all those clarinets, but compared with the Double Trio CD for example, well, there is no comparison.
Post Edited (2005-02-22 08:10)
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-02-22 13:21
www.clarity4.com
i bought it over two years ago and still love it.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2005-02-22 13:29
I've had it for several years. It's not something I want to play every day nor something the average person would fall in love with, but I like hearing the full range of instruments playing together.
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Author: BassetHorn
Date: 2005-02-22 17:06
Hi Alexi,
I checked out the website, the CD's name is Alive!
Can you tell me what sizes of clarinets the quartet plays? I am guessing the standard configuration of 2 Bbs, alto, and bass.
And where can I purchase a copy?
Thanks.
Willy
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Author: BassetHorn
Date: 2005-02-24 05:47
Hello Claribass, I managed to located a copy of Green Dolphy Suite and just had a first listen through. It's great music at first hearing, I am sure I will enjoy it more at repeated listening.
I am trying to purchase other recordings by Trio de Clarinettes. What is the best venue for doing so? Amazon.com?
Willy
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-02-24 06:49
Did I understand you correct that you bought the DoubleTrio CD?
At first I only listened to the first track by Sclavis and the one by Di Donato, and thought the others are too weird, but after a few times I listened to all of them I understood how great they all are.
All the music there is just amazing but some truely special moments you should notice:
Sclavis' solo on the first track (one of the best things ever played on bass clarinet), the end of the second track with the clarinets (hard to describe) and Angster's bass clarinet solo on the same track, the entire Di Donato solo on his track (almost all the track is his solo), Ambient noises, Angster's contrabass clarinet solo, and especially Di Donato's solo on soprano clarinet on Dresser's Bosnia.
About Trio De Clarinettes I'm not sure. The only CD I know from them is the live concert, but I never listened to it. it's a little hard to find. I know they played a piece by Boulez which I think he composed especally for them.
Some of my Sclavis CDs I ordered directly from the label, because I couldn't find them anywhere else. Maybe you can try that.
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Author: jez
Date: 2005-02-24 09:35
Check out an album called 'Le Jardin Feerique' by a group called 'The Clarinet Section' at http://www.clarinetclassics.com
It features clarinets in A flat, E flat, D, B flat, alto, bass, contra in E flat and B flat (not all at the same time)
Post Edited (2005-02-24 10:03)
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Author: BassetHorn
Date: 2005-02-24 16:46
Yes Claribass, I bought the Double Trio CD at a local mega store, there were also a couple of Louis Sclavis' solo CD.
Sclavis got a great sound of his Selmer on his BC solo on the first track. But where is Angster's CB solo?
I will see if I can get a copy of the Live! CD from FMP. Thank you for your help!
Willy
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-02-25 07:09
Hi Basset, about Sclavis solo on the first track, it's not only the sound, it's also how he builds the solo and his ideas and especially rhythms. He (and the violin and cello hand drumming too) flow around the beat in a very interesting way. Most of Sclavis ideas are based on rhythm and are very original.
About Angster's contrabass clarinet solo, it's on the track called Bosnia. It's not exactly a solo really. It's more like a bunch of interesting sounds and overtones he does with the contrabass clarinet. It's throughout the track, but after about 9 minutes into the track it really starts. The violin around that time is pretty amazing too, I've never heard a violin play like this. Like I said in my previous post, notice the soprano clarinet solo by Di Donato which is right after the CB clarinet solo on the track Bosnia. Never heard anything like that from a clarinet, and composition and harmony is great too.
I also have a lot of Sclavis solo CDs. He is pretty good on soprano saxophone (one of the best I know) but obviously I like him better on clarinet. If you are interested in more CDs by Scalvis I can tell you which ones are the best. He actually doesn't have any bad CDs, but some are especially good and better than the rest.
One I will already recommend is a CD called Clarinettes. I don't know how come I forgot about it until now, since it's exactly what you asked about. It has as much as 15 (at least that what I was told) clarinets at once, but only Louis Scavis is playing. The track called Clarinette from that CD has pretty much every sound possible on the clarinet. Just a great CD.
I'm always surprised how not so many on this board know all those CDs, since they are some of the best music made on clarinets.
Let me know if you get that Trio De Clarinettes CD I would order it too.
Post Edited (2005-02-25 10:22)
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-02-25 17:27
Quote:
Hi Alexi,
I checked out the website, the CD's name is Alive!
Can you tell me what sizes of clarinets the quartet plays? I am guessing the standard configuration of 2 Bbs, alto, and bass.
And where can I purchase a copy?
Thanks.
Willy Well, the clarinets they play are one of each (a bass clarinet, an alto clarinet, a Bb clarinet, and an Eb clarinet). As per buying it, I looked and looked and couldn't find it, so I emailed one of the members who responded with somewhere I could buy it. I ended up buying from some store in Australia and having it shipped here (VERY slowly to save some $$$). I think it came out to around 20 US dollars with exchange rate and shipping. I think it was worth it. I'd email a member of Clarity and ask.
Also, if they still have them, listen to the samples. I thought they were awesome and loved (and still do) their sound and the way they blend.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: BassetHorn
Date: 2005-02-25 21:25
Claribass, I think the word “energetic” best describes this CD. Exemplary playing all around. My only wish is that Angster could have played the contrabass more “straight” so listeners could appreciate the instrument’s wide range of possibilities. Overall the ensemble blends well yet allows the uniqueness of each instrument shine through. There is some wonderful doublebass solo too.
I have only recently discovered Sclavis. In terms of bass, I have only listened mainly to Dolphy, Bok, and Feidman. I am interested to hear from you what Sclavis CDs you recommend. Please email me privately if you don’t mind: bassethornmusic@hotmail.com
His website http://sclavisfansite.jp/ lists his discography, which is long and extensive. The only drawback with that information is that it leaves customers wanting to buy them but unable to. Local music stores don’t stock much of them and it’s a hassle having to find the CDs directly through the record companies, many of which are European. I only wish Amazon.com have more varieties in stock to satisfy the needs of NA listeners.
Horak’s recordings are also difficult to find. I emailed the website a couple of times in English, but never got an answer.
Willy
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Author: BassetHorn
Date: 2005-02-25 21:27
Hi Alex, I also emailed one of the members about purchasing the recording, haven't heard back yet. Thank you very much. Willy
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-02-26 05:08
Hi Basset
I will email you about those CDs.
I actually like Angster's playing on the contrabass clarinet, because other already play it more straight, he finds different ways to use it.
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Author: jim S.
Date: 2005-03-01 05:55
Look at Barnes & Noble's web site. They seem to have 5 or so of Sclavis' albums. They often are a source for foreign recordings not easily findable elsewhere.
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