{"id":2569,"date":"2020-05-07T11:39:06","date_gmt":"2020-05-07T10:39:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jasonalder.com\/blog\/?p=2569"},"modified":"2024-01-23T23:59:40","modified_gmt":"2024-01-23T22:59:40","slug":"list-of-contrabass-clarinet-albums","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jasonalder.com\/blog\/2020\/05\/07\/list-of-contrabass-clarinet-albums\/","title":{"rendered":"The Big List of Contrabass Clarinet Albums (with playlist)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It’s no secret that there is not much repertoire for the BB\u266d contrabass clarinet (although, that list is growing!), and there is even less recorded material. I set out to compile a list of albums with recordings that feature the instrument, but I must admit that when I began this project, I did not expect to find nearly 70 albums! (EDIT Oct. 2021- now over 80 albums!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I didn’t include ensemble recordings that merely use a contrabass clarinet, but rather focussed on solo and chamber works and the couple larger ensemble pieces where the contrabass clarinet is a solo instrument. I am also limiting this particular list to composed music following in the classical music tradition (which then happens to exclude one of my own albums<\/a>!), but this distinction is not always so clear. You’ll notice a few player-composers such as Terje Lerstad, John McCowen, Lori Freedman, Jean-Fran\u00e7ois Charles, Aviva Endean, and Colin Stetson, most of whom also have very close ties to improvisation, which can be sensed in their compositions. Other players such as Armand Angster, Michel Portal, Jacques di Donato, and Theo Nabicht are also well known as improvisers and jazz players, blurring the definition of “composed” and “classical” even further. I’ll endeavor to make another list with improvised and song-based music in the future (which I actually think will be an even bigger task!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And while the Internet Age is changing the concept of the album and how music is “released” and consumed, I took a more traditional approach to this list and am limiting it to commercially available recordings. Some are available in a digital format only, but I have not included those available only on Soundcloud or YouTube. Perhaps I’ll also do another list of “unreleased” recordings in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You’ll notice some recurring pieces in the repertoire, notably Grisey’s Anubis et Nout, <\/em>Donatoni’s Ombra,<\/em> and Scelsi’s Maknongan<\/em> (which isn’t even specifically for contrabass clarinet, but any low instrument) for solo pieces, as well as Luigi Nono’s opera Prometeo,<\/em> which I’ve included because there are several movements that feature the contrabass clarinet. Most of the albums include only a few tracks for contrabass clarinet amongst other works for clarinets or by the composer, however there are a select few contra-only CDs by Sebastian Borsch, Theo Nabicht, John McCowen, Santi Mabad, and Sarah Watts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The list is in chronological order of album release. I have tried to include as many recordings as I could find, and I was delighted to discover many more pieces than I knew of before, but I’m sure the list is still not exhaustive. I am happy to update and include ones I may have missed, so please mention anything in the comments!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A playlist of available tracks can be heard on Spotify,<\/a> or in a couple cases other online services. When possible I have also provided links where the music can be purchased. I receive absolutely nothing from this, but hope that if you enjoy the music you’ll support the artists by buying the tracks or albums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Hoffnung Music Festival Concert (1956)<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

E. O. Pogson and Reginald Tritton, contrabass clarinets<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Tracks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gordon Jacob- Variations on ‘Anna Laurie’<\/em>, for two piccolos, heckelphone, two contrabass clarinets, two contrabassoons, serpent, contrabass serpent, harmonium, hurdy-gurdy, and subcontrabass tuba<\/p>\n\n\n\n