ABSTRACT

The Versatile Clarinet gives a wide-ranging look at the clarinet and the music that has been played on it. The book offers a brief survey of the types of music that have been played on the instrument, key players, and issues facing clarinetists as they seek to expand the instrument's repertory and recognition. The topics covered include everything from playing early and historic clarinets; jazz clarinet technique; contemporary and avant-garde music; klezmer clarinet; and the history of clarinet recording. The book will appeal to clarinetists, music historians, musical instrument scholars, and general readers interested in the development of this important instrument.

chapter |4 pages

Introduction

chapter 1|10 pages

The Early Clarinet

Historical Icon or Postmodern Invention?

chapter 2|15 pages

The Extended Clarinet

Four Contemporary Approaches

chapter 4|4 pages

The Albanian Kaba and the Clarinet

chapter 5|23 pages

Jazz Clarinet Performance

chapter 6|10 pages

William O. Smith — Musical Pioneer

A Look at the Work of One of America's Most Inventive Musicians

chapter 8|9 pages

The Bass Clarinet

chapter 9|8 pages

The Contrabass Clarinets

chapter 10|17 pages

Toward a Beginning

Thoughts Leading to an Interpretation of Domaines for Solo Clarinet by Pierre Boulez