This is how contra clarinet should sound. Seriously. I can honestly say I've never heard the instrument played with such warmth, clarity, and expression before. Well done, man.
I'm so incredibly glad that I found this recording at the beginning of my sophomore year in high school. I took this solo to Solo and Ensemble. It's been 3 years since then. This really takes me back, listening to it again now. I wish the register key wasn't broken on my school's contrabass clarinet when I did this. It would always stick for 3-4 seconds upon pushing the key. That didn't stop me from trying, nor did it stop me from making all-state honors the next year, but God was it annoying.
Wow, played the Eb for years and I'm looking to get back into it. The arrangement for Bb is new to me in a big way. You go low in the middle of the piece where the Eb typically goes an octave higher. Definite "but wait, there's more!" moment. I love it. Fantastic job!
this is the best performance from a contra clarinet I've heard in a long time. I play contra alto (witch is easier to play) and this man is the equivalent of Leo P. You're doin great.
I play bass clarinet and contra during solo and ensemble but lemme tell u it's hard even on a contra Alto is u look at videos or recording Contras all sound like beginners it's just hard to get a good sound
This was my solo in high school in 1976-77. I took it to competition and got a superior rating. I performed it on a stage as well. This brings back WONDERFUL memories! Thank you for this recording. It’s beautiful 😊
Omgosh yes I've been looking for someone who plays this song good I'm playing eb contralto bass to it okay yes I am playing it right I'm so happy you sound amazing btw
My school has a contrabass. None of the bass clarinets want to play that so my director is letting me play it. And I will be coming from a Soprano clarinet.
The Leblanc straight models usually only go down to low Eb. Their discontinued paperclip models usually go down to low D sometimes C. Selmer's model goes down to low C and is the most expensive variant.
If it's the one he's holding in all of of the photos of him with his instrument (and I'm going to go out on a limb and say it is :P), it is the plastic Leblanc L7182, which is a surprisingly fabulous instrument for the price.
