He was jumping octaves - not 'squeaking'. He even made this clarinet sound like a flute - no small undertaking. He's a clarinet virtuoso. This performance gets an A++++ and then some. Great job!!!
For those who may not know: the coda to the end starting at 6:26 is in concert E major, and this guys uses a Bb clarinet. Which in a sense, this guy is playing *his* F# major (6 sharps) which is very awkward and extremely hard to play. But he actually did it.
He can play in all the styles that you want, klezmer, classic, he is the most big talent I've listen in my life, and not only in the technic part, wich is really really amazing!! Bravo Mate Bekavac, if this is your name.
After several years I feel so stupid reading my own comments on is vid haha. I appreciate Mate Bekavac's skill more now. Big props to him and sorry for my past comments
A few facts: reed instruments are physically difficult. It's like running a marathon and being expected to perfectly execute pirouettes at every step, while holding your breath all the way. I'd like to see a violinist do it while holding his breath, with the strings tied to his lips. It's that demanding. Long pieces are harder; you're physically exhausted. Muscles no longer obey. In short, this guy's amazing. From someone who knows. Shooshie
Increíble lo que hace Mate Bekavac; y todavía hay quien le saca algún fallo... En fin, bravo por este enorme clarinetista, de lo mejor del mundo en música clásica y contemporánea, además de gran arreglista y compositor. A ver si se pasa por España y podemos disfrutar de su arte!!
Add to my previous post: reeds are like wild-cards. Sometimes they work, sometimes not. Sometimes they quit before you do. Fickle and cruel. AirConditioners & heaters can destroy their response. It takes an expert reedmaker to get one that will last through a concert and play the same from beginning to end. This guy's reed is nearly shot by the end, but he makes it bend to his will anyway. Give him a medal! Critics really should have the concert battle scars to back them up. Shooshie
This post is worth commenting on. The way I hear it, he has so much to say, musically, that the clarinet almost can't handle it. It's his own style. Richard Stoltzman took a lot of flack (and still does) for being an individual and not playing like everyone else. This guy CAN'T play like everyone else because he is unique, and thus pushes the technical envelop of what the clarinet can do. But he is also tremendously musical, and technical-minded clarinetists need to think about that.
You people bitching about the two squeeks he made. Let's hear you perform this at this level, with as little squeeks as he did. Are you guys even clarinet players? Psh
ad onor del vero in tutta la mia carriera da clarinettista non ho mai sentito una padronanza dello strumento come questo..non posso fare altro che complimentarmi....eccezionale.!!!
Technically, it is true that this is not flawless, and that is why I want to hear Bekavac's Carmen again and see how this variation will change... maybe I am wishing to hear Horowitz on Clarinet...? Bekavac's variation is of much bravura, and to the point that I think is highly experimental. As such, I expect him to keep experimenting. I think Bekavac's "parlor tricks" are just the start of a whole study in post-altissimo acrobatics for clarinets, and this I eagerly await.
Jaw hits floor dang! :D This is once again amazing - Oh FYI Squeaks can happen when the reed is to dry. If you paid attention he was messing with it toward the beginning. It probally has dried out a little bit - One squeak get over it. This is amazing!
beh io passerei oltre...anzi gli errori mi fa piacere sentirli almeno vedo ke è un umano a suonare...xkè è veramente un mostro!!! ancora tanti complimenti!!
Ok. This piece was written for violin. Violins are high, stringy, and squeaky. So if he's trying to simulate something that is squeaky, would it not be in character to sound that way? AND, do you realize that there is not a single piece of music in front of him? Sorry, but holy buckets. Step away from the comment box and enjoy how amazingly awesome this is.
IMO, best ones are the ones you make from tube cane -- in other words, from scratch. Many fine players do the same. It's the only consistent method to get a reed that is really matched to your playing, your weather, and setup. Takes a little longer, but in the long run it's cheaper and they last longer. It's a learned skill like any other, and takes lots of practice. Shooshie
HOLY kaakaa... i had no idea that satan could play the clarinet....seriously.. this guy is a hoot......ive never hear a real clarinet virtuoso before but now i have..... he goes over the top some but wtf.... its exciting , musical and entertaining... i bet rossini just wet himself.....
I don't know if these messages are posting in order. This is for dotdadee. I was mistaken about Dandois. Our sax tube cane supplier was Glotin from Ezanville, north of Paris. I picked out tubes and pre-split tubes when I visited him in the 70's. His cane was excellent. Wonderful man whose daughter now runs the business and is also knowledgeable. There was another supplier, but I've forgotten. Glotin was great, though, at least in the 70's.
Me parece algo espectacular. Para mi gusto Carmen está ya llena de arreglos y la gente la toca más para lucirse que para representar el contexto de la ópera. Pero sinceramente aunque lo pueda ver como un arreglo excesivo la verdad es que dudo que haya algo que este hombre no pueda tocar jaajaajaja
Je suis clarinettiste : la technique est époustouflante! doit on pour autant confondre les styles et revoir Bizet à la mode klezmer? Bravo tout de même pour la technique et la recherche dans les variations:) I'm a clarinettist : The technique is astonishing but it's of good quality to play Bizet in the style Klezmer ? Bravo for the technique and the searchresearch in the variations.
Peut-être parce que le personnage principal de l’œuvre est une gitane et que le klezmer est plus ou moins le style musical gitan/tsigane. L’oeuvre de Bizet est grandiose mais il empreinte définitivement un style musical espagnol dans son œuvre maîtresse et ne laisse entrevoir que rarement l’aspect gitan/flamenco/tsigane.
This is his future! He is a grown adult, and a master clarinetist. What gives you the right to speak so condescendingly? You probably can't play half as well as he can.
Ciao! Il brano in questione si compone di due parti: 1) P. de Sarasate : Carmen concert Fantasy op.25 for violin. il finale è invece è preso da 2) F. Borne : Fantasia brillante su Carmen for flute. Il primo è nella stessa tonalità mentre il secondo è trasportato un tono sotto. Eccezionale il solista! ancora mi chiedo come riesca ad eseguire certi passaggi a quella velocità! Bravo!!!!
@ChristianOrtega123 Nvm. I was distracted by his big body making the clarinet look smaller.i just pulled my clarinet out and played it by ear and it is, in fact in Bb because I just played on my Bb and he uses the same fingerings. sorry for the disagreement. lol.
