Famous Clarinet Players Famous Clarinet Players All-time Famous Clarinet Players, Solo, Orchestral, Jazz, Grammy, Klezmer, World, Orchestral Principals 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. Can this Puppy Resist Clarinet Shoes? What is in the box? All-time Famous Clarinet Players - Goodman, Shaw and Herman 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. The following method includes the music to Sing, Sing, Sing. look inside 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.

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). This Eddie Daniels method has Shaw's signature tune in it: Begin the Beguine look inside 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 - Soloists 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 If you are interested in learning the Spohr and Krommer works on the Bliss/Meyer CD, check them out here... look inside 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). While clarinetists today aren’t necessarily household names like Britney Spears and Tom Cruise (thank goodness for us and the players), there are clarinet superstars among the classical, jazz and klezmer styles. Here is a small selection of names of famous clarinetists: Famous Clarinet Players - Richard Stoltzman Richard Stoltzman, Grammy-Award winning clarinetist, plays some music and talks about his experiences working with modern classical composers. The music he is playing on this clip is the Bach Chromatic Fantasy.

look inside 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). Here is Mr. Stoltzman playing the first movement of the Copland Clarinet Concerto with Michael Tilson Thomas conducting the London Symphony Orchestra. look inside 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). Famous Clarinet Players - Martin Fröst See and hear this amazing montage of Swedish clarinet virtuoso Martin Fröst. Charismatic and multi-talented, you’ll see him performing clarinet while rollerblading and articulating the Flight of the Bumble Bee.

Want to learn Flight of the Bumblebee? Go through Opperman's Chromatic Machine methodically and you'll turn some heads with speed. look inside The Clarinet Chromatic Machine Composed by Alexander Borodin Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. For Clarinet. Softcover. Standard notation. 144 pages. Published by Carl Fischer (CF.WF46). What do you mean by “pushing the envelope?” More Martin Fröst to follow; this is the short version of Hillborg's Clarinet Concerto "Peacock Tales". The playing is amazing all by itself. Now, add the acrobatics in between… Famous Clarinet Players - Orchestral 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. Hear Mr. Karl Leister play Carl Maria von Weber's Rondo. Allegro giocoso from the Clarinet Quintet, Bb Major Op. 34. with members of BPO (1990) Berliner Philharmonic Chamber Music. Watch this video of orchestral player Ricardo Morales.

Read more about Orchestral Principal Clarinetists at the bottom of this page... Famous Clarinet Players - Jazz Jazz - Don Byron, Eddie Daniels, Paquito D’Rivera, Buddy DeFranco, Pete Fountain Read about the 2010 Jazz Clarinetist of the Year, Anat Cohen here. Eddie Daniels, Clarinet, and the Ensemble Sans Frontière (String Quintet) playing an excerpt from Frank Proto’s String Quintet. You will not find the Proto quintet in the book following, but you will get good incite as too how to play works that difficult here... 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... Paquito D’Rivera starting out on clarinet and ending on alto sax. I believe we tracked down the tunes on the above Paquito D’Rivera video. The first one is Vals del Sur. The second one is called Snow Samba, composed with the Brazilian trumpeter Claudio Roditi, and it's one of the tracks of the album "Return to Ipanema", released in 1989. I can’t find any recordings other than this video of Paquito playing Vals del Sur. Thanks to Marco R. for filling me in on the second tune. Yesterdays with Buddy DeFranco with Les Brown and his Band of Renown, "Aurex Jazz Festival", Sep.1,1983 at Budokan(Tokyo,Japan). Make sure you listen to this one all the way to the end. AWESOME! You can find DeFranco’s transcription of Yesterday’s here… 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 Clarinet Players - Jazz, Klezmer and World Music Meet Clarinetist and composer Don Byron performs numerous styles of music. Bennetta Jules-Rosette, Ph.D. interviews Byron at the University of California. This is a 59 minute video so I’ve highlighted times below so you can skip to subjects that interest you or go directly to the music performance segments. See subject and performance times below video frame and let the video "load-in" before you skip from one section to the next. Times and performance sections in bold: (0:00) Byron speaks about his latest project and Afro-Caribbean music. (2:00) Great world clarinetists who influence Byron. (3:09) Byron speaks about how he started studying clarinet and how it helped him overcome challenges of asthma. Also, family influences and studies from classical to jazz to Eastern European folk music. (6:00) Byron talks about album Tuskegee Experiments and klezmer music. (12:38) Ideas on uses of different musical genres and pushing their limits.

(14:30) What is the Don Byron “stamp” on music? (16:45) Byron performs with pianist, Billy Childs, at Price Center Lecture, UCSD. (23:15) Music as a Social force? (24:15) Byron answers. (28:35) About Blacksploitation CD. (31:16) Byron plays Waltz for Ellen from Tuskegee Experiments during the interview. (34:49) Byron plays another waltz with Billy Childs. (41:35) About Byron’s composing process. (45:00) Music style and idiom influences on Byron. (47:40) Byron on Stravinsky’s Ebony Concerto. (50:35) Byron on Hip-Hop. (53:25) Byron’s advice to young musicians. (54:14) Byron plays again as a closer. Dixieland Jazz New Orleans jazz man Pete Fountain playing Just a Closer Walk with Thee with Amazing Grace in the middle and a few bars of I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire.

New Orleans Jazz Clarinetists 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. Johnny Dodds playing with King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band – below is Dippermouth Blues (Sugarfoot Stomp) 1923 Joe "King" Oliver was a jazz cornet player and bandleader. Johnny Dodds performed clarinet with him as well as Oliver’s protegé Louis Armstrong, second cornet, Baby Dodds, drums, Lil Hardin, on piano, Honore Dutrey on trombone, and Bill Johnson, bass and banjo. Recordings made by this group in 1923 demonstrated the serious artistry of the New Orleans style of collective improvisation or Dixieland music to a wider audience. Jimmie Noone – song You Rascal You Jimmie Noone is generally regarded as one of the greatest of the second generation of jazz clarinetists, along with Johnny Dodds and Sidney Bechet.

Famous Clarinet Players - Klezmer 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. If you know this untitled Klezmer melody, please contact me. Otherwise, hear Mr. Statman perform A Collection of Timeless Jewish Melodies here Learn to Play Klezmer Music Improvising in the Tradition. By Andy Statman. This edition: DVDSTAKL21. Homespun Tapes (Instructional). DVD . Published by Homespun. (641998) Famous Clarinet Players - World 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.

Macedonia - The famous clarinet player from Republic of Macedonia, Tale Ognenovski played the clarinet as a Macedonian folk instrument and became famous worldwide with his work. Below is not a video but a montage with some great playing on it. Famous Clarinet Players - Historical See more info... If you ask a clarinetist who the most famous clarinet players are, they might give some of the aforementioned names, but more than likely they’ll give you their spin on the greatest clarinetist alive or dead and why that person is the greatest. And, they’ll subdivide the players into musical styles, or countries and continents like: the greatest American clarinetist, French clarinetist, German clarinetist, Jazz clarinetist, Klezmer clarinetist, Greek clarinetist, etc… Then, you have the category of the most famous clarinet players of all time. It’s hard to compare this category because recordings didn’t become available until the late 1880s (cylinder disks).

But, you can guess that the historically famous clarinetists would include Anton Stadler (Mozart’s friend and inspiration to write the Clarinet Concerto and Quintet) and Richard Muhlfeld (Brahm’s friend and inspiration to write the Clarinet Sonatas, Trio and Quintet). Matter of fact, Brahm’s had decided to quit composing completely until he heard Richard Muhlfeld play as principal clarinetist of the Meiningen Court Orchestra in Germany. Thanks to Stadler and Brahms, the clarinet world has music written by two of the greatest composers that ever lived; written specifically for clarinet; and during the most mature time period of the composer’s life. So, how does a young clarinetist figure out who the MOST famous clarinet players are now-a-days? Well, let’s start with the Grammy awards. The “person on the street” knows what the Grammy awards are, right? GRAMMY WINNING CLARINETISTS 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. ORCHESTRAL PRINCIPAL CLARINETISTS 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? The Clarinet - Famous Players Famous Players Clarinet players from Stadler to Fröst There are and were a lot of excellent and popular clarinet players and ensembles, and it is not simple to give you a list of the "best known" or "the best". You find a list of the ones that I found were/are important in their time. Quite often the clarinet players influenced composers directly - this wasn't always just a professional relationship only, but often a friendship. It helped both: The musician needed new and popular pieces to play, and the composer benefited from finding out what a player could do with the instrument. Most composers then and today play the piano and maybe one other instrument, the more they know about the characteristics of the instruments, the better they can set music for them.

You find a lot of such relationships between composer and player: Stamitz and Joseph Beer, Mozart and Stadler, Spohr and Hermstedt, Weber and Baermann, Brahms and Mühlfeld, as well as Benny Goodman who worked together with modern composers a lot. Since the time I started to write this web page - late last century - media channels like Youtube have become very popular, and broadband access is affordable to most of you. This changes the way we can access and consume music and media. In result you can watch most of today's players in videoclips in famous concert halls right in your browser. It is technically possible to list links to these videos, but they may change frequently and some are simply illegal in some countries. You will easily find them by using the search option of youtube entering Stoltzman, Meyer or Neidich - and you will find hundreds of excellent concerto recording clips and videos, some in HD and HiFi. The definite highlight is the series from Denmark Play with a Pro , where renowned instrumental teachers and professionals give masterclass-type lessons. This includes clarinets, too. Now which players should be on this page?

This is especially difficult to answer for an international web page, because the question whether a player is well known depends, too, very much on the country you live in. Since I am German and wrote the page for German-speaking readers at first (and later translated it) you still find lots of Germans here. So if you can think of a certain player who should be added, do send me a mail with a short description in the style below, explain why and I will add that person. Anton Stadler Anton Stadler (1753 - 1812) is of course so well known, because his playing inspired Wolgang Amadeus Mozart to write his popular compositions. Without an extremely capable clarinet player one can hardly imagine the love of a composer like Mozart for the clarinet: At that time it was a crude, very imperfect instrument (and at the same time the string section played on Stradivaris - even today there is nothing better!). On the other hand the man Stadler was an infamous gambler and drinker, he fell nothing short to Mozart in spending money he didn't have: When Mozart died as poor man, Stadler still owed him money.

Johann Simon Hermstedt Johann Simon Hermstedt (1778-1846) was the virtuoso with a technical talent. His tone was not as beautiful as Heinrich Baermann's (that is why Weber preferred Baermann and wrote for him), but Hermstedt was not only a player who could play nearly everything, but a gifted kraftsman as well. The composer who wrote for him was Spohr . Spohr did not care for any problems the player might have with a piece which in return resulted in Hermstedt improving the mechanics of his instrument. This pushed forward the technical improvement of the clarinet a lot. Even today with advanced instruments you will find the four concertos for Hermstedt to be packed with tough challenges for the most experienced players. Heinrich Baermann Heinrich Baermann (1784 - 1847) started his musical career as oboe player in Potsdam. Then he learned to play the clarinet and went to Munich to King Ludwig's court, later to Vienna and London. He traveled all over Europe on concert tours.

In Munich he met Carl Maria von Weber and, like Mozart wrote concertos for Stadler, Weber wrote for Baermann. The success was overwhelming. Weber wrote to a friend: "The whole orchestra went crazy and demands concertos from me. The are even writing to the King and the board of musical directors...". Carl Baermann Heinrich Bearmann's son (1811 - 1885) Carl was a famous player, too, but today he may be even better known as professor for music and author of a clarinet book, that most of the German students still use today. He, too, has helped to improve the mechanics of the instrument. Richard Mühlfeld Richard Mühlfeld (1856 - 1907) started as violinist in the court orchestra in Meiningen, and taught himself to play the clarinet. His importance lies in his friendship with Johannes Brahms , who called him - due to his sweet tone - "miss clarinet". Brahms had already stopped composing, but Mühlfelds playing made him write his last works for Mühlfeld's clarinet. The letter "ü" is pronounced similar to the "y" in "physics".

If you don't find it on your keyboard, you rather replace it by a "ue" than typing "u". Jack Brymer Jack Brymer was an English clarinet player, who has recorded a lot of important pieces together with great orchestras. He is maybe even better known to the musical world because he has written an excellent Book about the clarinet that was translated in many languages (if there is one book you should read as clarinet player, this is the one). He has intensively thought about many aspects of the instrument, the sound of the clarinet and different ideas about it in the world and he is a well known clarinet teacher. The book will be found even in small local libraries. But because the book is one in a series published by Sir Yehudi Menuhin, you may find it in the library under "M" rather than under "B". Karl Leister Karl Leister was the German clarinet player that you will find the most German recordings of. He played with Karajan more than thirty years. His recordings are allways perfect and adapted to the musical style required. Dieter Klöcker Dieter Klöcker is a German clarinet player with a lot of recordings.

Especially if you are looking for pieces that are not top sellers, you may find recordings with him. Besides his playing career he is a Professor in Freiburg with a focus on jewish music. Many pubications. The letter "ö" is pronounced similar to the "i" in "sir" or the "e" in "certain". If you don't have it on your keyboard, replace it by "oe" rather than "o". Jost Michaels Jost Michaels was an excellent player, but was even better known as Professor in Detmold, Germany, where he focussed on playing technique. On this subject he has published a (German) book Spieltechnik . Richard Stoltzman Richard Stoltzman is the most popular classical clarinet player in the United States of America today. He is playing with famous orchestras and recording CDs. On his homepage ( ) you find samples of his music and links to YouTube videos, including performances with the children's tv programme Sesame Street.

You may even have one of his recordings on your computer, if you use Microsoft's Windows 7: They put his version of Debussys "Maid with the flaxen hair" as example for the media player onto your disc, if you have got a standard installation - try and click ... Sample Music/Maid with the Flaxen Hair.mp3 . Harold Wright Our reader Mark told us that Harold Wright (1926 - 1993) was probably the best classical clarinet player in the United States of America ever. He was playing for BSO (Boston Symphonic Orchestra). Seiji Ozawa, former director of the BSO, said in the Boston Globe that not only was he the best player in the BSO, he was one of the top handful of greatest musicians of the 20th century, along side Heifitz, Horowitz, Casals, and so on. There are a number of his performances available on YouTube; His playing in the 3rd movement of the Weber Concerto - he plays slower than the principles of Vienna and Berlin (or Martin Fröst), but he plays flawlessly. He gives the movement more bounce - more like the dance it is supposed to be!

He is in absolute control of the instrument, and thus able to play all those damn triplets at the end perfectly in control. Using a double embouchure, he incorporated German, French and American styles of playing into his sound. He was famous for continually struggling for perfection (which is also why he did so few solo performances). Charles Neidich Charles Neidich is a popular classical clarinet player in the United States of America. playing with famous orchestras and recording CDs. You can watch him and other clarinet players in the excellent series of videoclips from Denmark (in English Language) called Play with a Pro , each clip focuses on an important aspects of clarinet playing. Sabine Meyer Sabine Meyer ( ) is a popular German solo clarinet player and frequently tours with excellent ensembles. She has recorded a large number of CDs. She also is a Professor for clarinet in Lübeck. She became known to the public when Karajan called her to the Berlin Philharmonics to be one of the first women in the Orchestra (especially in the clarinet section) which led to some irritations. Today she probably is Germany's most popular clarinet player.

Sharon Kam Sharon Kam ( ) was born in Israel and won a stipendiate of the Jewish-American Cultural Society at the age of 12. Since then she gives concerts with famous orchestras and collects media prizes. Living in Germany today she is a good example for the modern, flexible clarinet player who can adapt to the style required rather than playing all types of music in exactly the same manner. Martin Fröst Today the swedish clarinetist Martin Fröst ( ) is definitely the most unconventional international wind players. On the one hand he is a gifted solo clarinet player, who frequently tours with excellent orchestras like the German Chamber Philharmony Bremen, the Austrian Camerata Salzburg or the Hamburg Symphonics. But since there is a number of brilliant soloist out there, this would not be sufficient to establish yourself in this time. Fröst has therefore invested the price money he won in a competition into an unusual composition that combines modern music with dance and acting elements (you find the video at his home page ). This makes performances by Fröst interesting for a wide audience, and that again translates into sold tickets which is an important factor for every orchestra that may engage him as a solo clarinetist.

The letter "ö", which you find in Swedish and German, is pronounced similar to the "i" in "sir" or the "e" in "certain". Julian Bliss Julian Bliss started playing the clarinet at age four using a Lyons C Clarinet. He earned his postgraduate Artist’s Diploma from Indiana University (USA) at age 12 in 2001. However, he had to wait until he graduated from high school before he was awarded his diploma. He won the 2001 Concerto Soloists Young Artists competition in Philadelphia in 2002, and performed for Queen Elizabeth at her 80th Birthday Celebration. He has appeared as a soloist with the London Philharmonic, BBC Symphony and many other orchestras in the United States. He also has a career as a chamber musician. Non-Classical Players Jazz: Benny Goodman Benny (Benjamin David) Goodman was an American clarinet player who started as jazz musician (mainly in the swing area - he still is called "The King Of Swing"), who managed to establish this music in a serious environment (the famous concert in Carnegie Hall), and who toured with classical and even modern pieces as soloist, too.

He made some recordings of classical works in Goodman style, that is, Mozart with a vibrato - real traditionalists don't like it... But then again there is no doubt that Goodman has pushed foreward modern clarinet music by ordering works from many modern composers, like Bartok, Copland an Hindemith. Klezmer: Giora Feidman Giora Feidman has his roots in the jewish Klezmer tradition. He plays an important part in the renaissance of that style, especially when he appeared in some movies as jewish klezmer clarinet player. Oriental: Hüsnü Senlendirici Hüsnü Senlendirici is by far the most popular Turkish clarinet player. He is definitely not a classical player but a pop or folk musician, playing music in a traditional folk style but behaving like western rock stars (imagine a Freddy Mercury on stage with a clarinet). In the orient there seems to be less of clear border between folk musik and pop than western cultures have it. Female and male fans alike go crazy in his concerts, it appears to be there is nothing wrong to burst into tears when Hüsnü plays.

Turkish traditional clarinet players (as other Greece, Oriental and Balcan players) use a G clarinet, which is a bit longer and sounds deeper and softer than the somewhat sharp Bb clarinet. Stories to the point that he taught clarinet himself appear to be wrong, his family is one of well known musicians: Both grandfathers and his father played the clarinet. He studied Turkish Music in Istanbul. He played in several bands and performed in hundreds of festivals worldwide. The Turkish TV channel TRT that is watched by millions of Turkish people all over Europe by cable or satellite and broadcasts music shows employs him to host one of these shows. There are many videos worth watching of him on YouTube . Vasilios Saleas Vasilios Saleas (Βασίλης Σαλέας) - is not only the name of the one most famous Greek clarinet player but there are two of them: Grandfather and grandson. Grandpa Vasilios was born in a Roma family in Mesolonghi in Greece in 1928. He advanced his playing style and broke out of the traditional Greek folk music environment.

He estabished the oriental clarinet ("alla turka") in other musical fields as well. When Vasilios emigrated to New York City in the USA like many other Greeks he took his musical style with him. Playing mostly in Greek restaurants and night clubs (belly dance) he also recorded his music, some records are still available as CD. This resulted in an immense influence on the western world's idea of Greek clarinet playing, and it made him the best known oriental clarinet player of his time. His sound set an extreme contrast to the classical sound that people in the west were used to, especially if you often heard players tought in German style, but it was also quite different from what you heard in a Dixieland or marching band. Vasilis the grandson is known as New Age clarinet player, who already performed with Mikis Theodorakis and - most prominent - with Vangelis Papathanasiou in the early 1990s. Grown up in Athens, he learned playing the clarinet from his father and uncle and recorded his first own CD at the age of 14. I find it quite notable that both Saleas' are equally admired in Greece as in Turkey.

This may come as a surprise if you know how much in dispute Greece and Turkey are as states. Where it comes to music, however, they seem to live in harmony, perform together and show each other respect... Other well known clarinet players (Links) Allen, Woody - movie director / actor, amateur player - New Orleans jazz Bilk, Acker - British Jazzer, mainly one hit (Stranger on the Shore) Bliss, Julian - young player from the USA, started aged 4 Cahuzac, Louis - 1880–1960 a French clarinetist and composer Daniels, Eddy - USA, jazz and classical clarinetist Drucker, Stanley USA/Ukrainian, oldest performing clarinet pro Famous Clarinet Players Bass Clarinets Famous Clarinet Players Although first used in orchestral music, the clarinet has been used in a number of other genres, perhaps most notably jazz. Some of the most famous clarinet players came into public view at the height of the big band era. Among the best known big band players were Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw. Benny Goodman was born in Chicago in 1909.

He was already playing professionally in his teens and made his first recording in 1926 with a popular Chicago band. Just two years later was recording under his own name. Goodman was a gifted and innovative clarinet player who enjoyed success in his time that could be compared to that of top rock stars in later years. Goodman also made history in the early 30's when he hired black musicians to play in his band. At the time, black and white musicians could not play together in many venues, and racial segregation was still being enforced in Southern States. He continued to play the clarinet until his death in 1984. The second of our featured famous clarinet players is Artie Shaw. Shaw, whose real name was Arthur Arshawski, was born in New York in 1910. By the age of 16 he was already on the road playing with a band. During the Swing era of the 1930's and 40's Shaw led his own band which enjoyed great popularity and success. He was known as an innovator in the big band scene.

Shaw also left his mark on racial integration history when he hired Billie Holiday as his vocalist, becoming the first white band leader to have a black female as his full-time vocalist. Shaw stopped playing in the mid 1950's to concentrate on his writing career. He died in December of 2004. It would be difficult to include everyone's favorite clarinetist on this page. There have been numerous well-known players the jazz arena including Eddie Daniels, Acker Bilk, Buddy DeFranco, Woody Herman, Pete Fountain and many others. We plan to add to our list over time, so if there are clarinetists you'd like to see featured here for any musical genre - jazz, classical, klezmer...you name it - drop us a note and tell us about them. Email For additional reading and research on these and other famous clarinetists visit the following links: Wikipedia Clarinets Page - Lists famous clarinet players and provides links to biographical information. Official Benny Goodman Site Information submitted by site visitors: I would like to add to your list the names of some lifelong clarinet players in the U.S. Mr. Claude Kelly who is well known in Lake Tahoe--and South Florida.

He has been on many network programs and has traveled throughout South America with "Passport to Jazz" show. Also played at jazz concerts in Europe. Benny Goodman gave him one of his clarinets, when they both were playing at Harrah's in Lake Tahoe with Red Norno. Mr. Bernie Kaufman spent many years with Frank Sinatra and also Perry Como shows. Now living in Conn. Thank you for adding these players to you list. Who Are Some Famous Clarinet Players? Who Are Some Famous Clarinet Players? On This Page Written By: C. K. Lanz Edited By: Melissa Wiley Last Modified Date: 05 December 2016 Copyright Protected: 10 most extreme places on Earth Any list of famous clarinet players would include clarinetists from around the world and since the early 18th century, when the modern instrument was introduced in Germany. From Anton Stadler’s mastery of the basset clarinet in the late 18th century to Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw's 20th-century jazz and swing, clarinetists have played an important role in music.

As the superiority of any given musician is based somewhat on subjective judgment, no definitive list of famous clarinet players exists. Yet there are famous clarinet players in many musical styles, from classical to jazz and swing. The Austrian Anton Stadler was one of the first famous clarinet players, even attracting the interest of composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart . Stadler’s career spanned the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and he enjoyed a reputation for producing a beautiful, clear tone from what was a rustic version of the instrument known today. Mozart composed several pieces for Stadler, including the "Quintet for Clarinet and Strings" and the Clarinet Concerto ." Other early famous clarinet players include Heinrich Baermann and his son Carl, both active performers during the 19th century. The elder Baermann traded his oboe for a clarinet and found fame touring Europe. Romantic composer Carl Maria von Weber composed pieces for Heinrich, as did Felix Mendelssohn. Mendelssohn composed "Opp. 113" and "Opp. 114" for father and son clarinetists to play together.

Heinrich’s son Carl authored many compositions popular with virtuosos. Ad One of the most famous clarinet players of the 20th century is American jazz and swing musician Benny Goodman. Goodman, known as the king of swing, was a bandleader as well as a soloist who toured performing classical and modern pieces. As a jazz bandleader, he was the first to sell out Carnegie Hall in 1938, a concert widely regarded as one of the most important in jazz music history. Goodman commissioned many pieces from contemporary composers during his solo career, thus ensuring that the instrument remained in the spotlight. Like Goodman, American jazz clarinetist Artie Shaw was a bandleader in the 1930s and 1940s. His band’s signature song was a version of “Begin the Beguine” by Cole Porter. Shaw later performed with the New York Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein, winning a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. German classical clarinetist Sabine Meyer has produced many recordings as a soloist. As a result, she has helped promote the clarinet as a solo instrument across the world.

She began her career performing with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra as solo clarinetest and later founded the Trio di Clarone in 1983. Meyer is a dedicated promoter of new music, and composers like Toshio Hosokawa, Jean Francaix, and Harald Genzmer have written pieces for her. Martin Frost is a Swedish clarinetist born in 1970 who represents a physical performance style. He is known to move, dance, and sing during performances, encouraging the audience to engage with the music. Frost stands out as a soloist in part because of his dexterity and agility, which allow him to master complex, fast pieces and styles. Although primarily famous for his films, American director Woody Allen is also a skilled jazz clarinetist. He took his stage name Woody from clarinetist Woody Herman. He performs occasionally in Manhattan with his New Orleans jazz band and at various jazz festivals. Woody Allen the clarinetist was the subject of the 1997 documentary Wild Man Blues, directed by Barbara Kopple. There are many other famous clarinet players. The creation of an exhaustive or definitive list is impossible because the greatness of any musician is somewhat subjective.

The clarinet remains an important solo and ensemble instrument as a result of the performances of many talented clarinetists. Ad "Benny Goodman : From “King of Swing” to Third Stream" by Jae Ellis Bull Donald Williams Abstract Clarinetist and band leader Benny Goodman was born in the Chicago slums in 1909. He first played in dance bands and eventually organized his own band, which became so popular that he was known as the "King of Swing." As a clarinetist, he also was attracted to classical music, particularly the clarinet music of Mozart, Debussy and Brahms. Gunther Schuller, describing Goodman's ability to play in both jazz and classical styles said, "In a sense, Benny was the first Third Stream musician, moving easily in and out of jazz and classical music, from the Palomar Ballroom to Carnegie Hall..." 1 This paper explores Goodman's musical career in both the classical and jazz worlds, defines the term “Third Stream” and describes how Benny Goodman fits this term. Selected works Goodman explored as a classical clarinetist as well as some of the music written for and commissioned by him are discussed in detail.

Subject(s) Benny Goodman Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life & Achievements of Musician Musicians Benny Goodman Biography Benny Goodman was a leading jazz clarinet player and an outstanding bandleader of the Swing Era. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and other facts related to his life. Quick Facts Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award Image Credit Benjamin David Goodman, better known as 'Benny Goodman', was a leading jazz clarinet player and an outstanding bandleader of the Swing Era (1935-1945). He was famously nicknamed as the 'King of Swing' by his band mates. Not only his music was unique and sensational, but it also reflected his relentless pursuit of perfection. His concert at Carnegie Hall, New York City, on January 16, 1938, is widely regarded as the most important concert in the history of America. Not only Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in the country, but careers of many major jazz artists were launched by his bands. He is deeply remembered for giving America a new kind of music and also remembered for giving jazz music a completely new and different identity.

In addition he was the first white bandleader to play such an important role in popularizing jazz music. He is also remembered for taking significant steps in racial integration. Early in the 1930s, when white and black musicians could not play together in concerts, he broke the tradition by hiring two black musicians to play with him. Goodman is also remembered by clarinet players all over the world for having solely commissioned many major works of 20th century chamber music for clarinet and small ensembles. Childhood & Early Life Benny Goodman was born in Chicago on May 30, 1909, to David Goodman and Dora Grisinsky, both poor Jewish immigrants from the Russian empire. He was the ninth of their twelve children. With little income but a large family, they lived in an overcrowded slum populated by other immigrants of Irish, German, Scandinavian, Polish, Italian and Jewish origins. The conditions of the slums were horrible, with dirty streets, insufficient schools and improper sanitation. Money was also a constant problem in the family as his father could not earn more than 20 dollars per week. Benny Goodman was only ten when he picked up a clarinet for the first time.

He first experienced live professional performances in Douglas Park, where his father used to take him with his siblings to see free band concerts. Soon his father enrolled him and two of his brothers at the Kehelah Jacob Synagogue, which was not only inexpensive, but also helped Benny gain his first basic lessons. Later, he started taking lessons from James Sylvester, and joined a band soon. He also received training from the clarinetist Franz Schoepp. He was influenced by other clarinetists like Johny Dodds and Jimmie Noone as well. Being a quick learner, he became a good player at an early age, and began playing professionally for several bands. Career At the age of 14, Benny Goodman became a member of the American Federation of Musicians. But in order to pursue his ambitions in the musical world, he had to abandon his studies. He eventually joined the musical band of Ben Pollack in Los Angeles, and stayed with them until he became a leading soloist. His first album âA Jazz Holidayâ was released in 1928, after which he moved to New York.

There he also worked on several radio shows, with several famous jazz artists of that time like Fats Waller, Ted Lewis and Bessie Smith. He started his career as a bandleader in 1934 for a group which became known as âThe Benny Goodman Orchestraâ. They performed a program regularly on the NBC radio show which was known as âLetâs Danceâ. His composed an instrumental piece âMoonglowâ which became a big hit. The band later started taking tours across the country. They received much popularity for introducing a new kind of music. On 21 August 1935, the band made history owing to their incredible performance at the Palomar Ballroom, in Los Angeles. This event can be seen as the beginning of the Swing Era. Goodman also received appreciation for fighting racism by being one of the first white persons to form integrated bands. Benny Goodman had received widespread fame and success by the time he was just 28. His compositions were featured and broadcast by the radio show âThe Camel Caravanâ. The show ran till from 1936 to 1939.

In 1936, he appeared as himself in the film âThe Big Broadcast of 1937â. After its success, he made several films himself like âThe Hollywood Hotelâ, âSyncopationâ and âSweet and Low-Downâ. In 1938, he was invited by Sol Hurok to perform at the Carnegie Hall in New York City. This was another one of the important events that shaped his career as his orchestra became the first one to perform jazz at the Carnegie hall. Benny Goodman used to be very strict as a bandleader, and was a very demanding boss who sought perfection from his performers. This led many of his players to leave and start their own groups. He was described by many as an âunfriendly employerâ. Around this time, Goodman also faced competition from other popular bandleaders like Artie Shaw and Glen Miller. After the end of World War II in 1945, his popularity seemed to fade, which made Goodman break up with his band. He still continued to perform with small groups.

He starred in the movie âA Song Is Bornâ in 1948. In the film about his own life, âThe Benny Goodman Storyâ (1955) he recorded the soundtrack himself. Goodman was played by comedian Steve Allen, and many of his real-life colleagues also appeared in the film. He spent most of his time abroad during the 1950s and 1960s. In 1971 he produced another music album which was named âBenny Goodman Todayâ. Despite his falling health, he continued to perform till his death in 1986. Major Works His âFamous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concertâ, a two-disc LP of Swing music first issued in 1950 is considered to be the "the single most important jazz or popular music concert in history: jazz's "coming out" party to the world of "respectable" music.â The first ever double album to be issues, it was also one of the first to sell over a million copies.

Awards & Achievements Shortly before Benny Goodmanâs death, he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. He received several awards posthumously as well, like a Grammy Award in 1987. He had also received honorary degrees from Brandeis University as well as Bard College. For his magnificent contribution to jazz, he was featured on a postage stamp in 1996, as part of the Legends of American Music series. Personal Life & Legacy Benny Goodman married Alice Hammond Duckworth in 1942, with whom he had two children, Rachel Goodman Edelson and Benjie Goodman Lasseau. His wife died in 1978. He suffered a heart attack and died on June 13, 1986. He was buried in Long Ridge Cemetery in Stamford, Connecticut.

Translate this page to Spanish, French, Hindi, Portuguese Pictures of Benny Goodman Benny Goodman — Free listening, videos, concerts, stats and photos at Last.fm fip Benny Goodman, born Benjamin David Goodman, (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American jazz musician, known as King of Swing, Patriarch of the Clarinet, The Professor, and Swing's Senior Statesman. Goodman was regarded by some as a demanding taskmaster, by others an arrogant and eccentric martinet. Many musicians spoke of The Ray, Goodman's trademark glare that he bestowed on a musician who failed to perform to his demanding standards. Anita O'Day and Helen Forrest spoke bitterly of their… read more Benny Goodman - The King of Swing Inquiries QUOTES ABOUT BENNY "The brilliant explosion known as Benny Goodman went off in 1935, and it hasn´t gone out yet." -- Whitney Balliett in The New Yorker, December 28, 1977 "He remains one of the great contributors to music . . .

people are fortunate to be able to enjoy this outstandingly talented man." -- John McDonough in Coda, a Canadian jazz publication, September 1974 "Benny Goodman is our ´International Ambassador With Clarinet.´ -- President John F. Kennedy upon Goodman´s return from a State Department sponsored concert tour in Russia, 1962 "Benny used to practice 15 times more than the whole band combined." -- Harry James, famous trumpet player and cinema performer "Working for Benny was like being in a school of music. His discipline, knowledge and ability were great determining factors in my musical life. -- Georgie Auld, tenor sax player “Only Stokowski and Iturbi made as many Hollywood films as Benny Goodman, and his touring and recordings have made him the greatest living jazz legend throughout the world.

His name is an ‘open sesame’ everywhere he goes.” -- Staten Island Sunday Advance, March 29, 1981 “From his earliest small group recordings through his big bands of the swing era – of which he surely was a king –and on until the end of his days, Benny Goodman was a master of the clarinet and a bandleader admired by musicians and non-musicians alike, across all musical categories and across the globe. His quicksilver tone, his insistent drive to swing the music, his ability to execute cleanly the most dramatic filigrees of passages – all these qualities made him one of the most imitated instrumentalists in the world. Equally important to his legacy is his courage in proclaiming that music is a universal language transcending race and nation. Both as musical units and as experiments in democracy, his integrated bands comprised magnificent gestures toward perfection in our time.” -- Robert J. O’Meally, Director of Jazz Studies, Columbia University, NYC “Listening to Benny talk about the clarinet was like listening to a surgeon get hung up on a scalpel.” -- Artie Shaw, quoted in the liner notes by Richard M.

Sudhalter for the CD “Benny Goodman: The Complete Trios” “Mr. Goodman could not so much as poke his clarinet into camera range yesterday without producing an ovation. His followers, whose names – as you may have guessed – are legion, beat their hands as though they had toughened them in brine for days. They stamped their feet, and there didn’t seem to be a rubber heel in the house. They whistled, they bleated, they cooed and they got rhythm and they almost drowned out the picture … they were yowling for more when we left.” -- Frank S. Nugent, in a New York Times review of the WB film, Hollywood Hotel, on January 13, 1938 “I had never heard anyone play like Benny Goodman and had never seen anyone like him on the stage. I realize now that what impressed me and stayed with me in memory was – the sounds he made. He played so purely. The music seemed to come from him, not just the instrument he played with such mastery.” -- actress Marian Seldes “Goodman was one of the most incredible players the field has ever known.

It wasn’t just that his own improvisation was marvelous, the spirit, the verve, the vitality, even humor he played with, but the sheer technical mastery. He played that thing like it was a yo-yo. The only thing comparable from a technical point of view would be [Art] Tatum." -- pianist-composer Mel Powell “He was totally in command of everything. He was always a heavy practicer. Practiced all the time. He had ideas on how everything should be done in the band – bass, everything. Nobody argued with him, everybody had great respect for him.” -- lead trumpet player Jimmy Maxwell “To me, some of the best moments of my life were playing with Benny.” -- bassist Sid Weiss “Above all else, he was a great player, one of the greatest American music has produced. He brought his absolute talent and his invincible love of music to the fore every time he played.

There are many other things connected to society and ethnicity that are often mentioned in a discussion of Benny Goodman but all of them are connected to his overwhelming affection for the art of the music and the fairness it should be allowed to express.” -- Stanley Crouch, Jazz Historian, author and Professor, Columbia University Jazz Program; columnist, New York Daily News “I first knew and loved Benny Goodman’s music from my small collection of 78’s and first heard him live at the old Paramount. – I brought along a lunch bag so I could stay for 2 shows. On trumpet I used to imitate Ziggy Elman playing the freilach variation on Benny’s recordings of 'The Angels Sing.' And years later, when I became the music director of the Corpus Christi Symphony, I had him as a soloist in Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto.

He told me we should play it as if we were singing “Don Giovanni.” Benny Goodman was a complete musician, the first-ever model for so many American artists who make no distinction between jazz and the classics." -- Maurice Peress, Professor of Music, Queens College, NYC "Let us not minimize the importance of Goodman’s role in classical music, if only because he commissioned and caused to be written a classic of twentieth-century literature, Bela Bartok’s Contrasts. In a sense, Benny was the first Third Stream musician, moving easily in and out of jazz and classical music, from the Palomar Ballroom to Carnegie Hall, or – to put it in another way – ‘jamming’ all night and then playing Mozart with his viola-playing friend and brother-in-law John Hammond.” The Swing Era, The Development Of Jazz, 1930 – 1945 -- Gunther Schuller

Question: Which jazz musician and clarinet player was known as the ‘King of Swing’?
Answer: Benny Goodman