Simple Gifts arranged for clarinet choir by Justice MacKenzie for the International Clarinet Association (ICA) Virtual ClarinetFest 2021. All parts played, recorded, edited and mixed by me 🙂
Indeed, very soft and elegant. Another one, that offers a little over 3 note harmonies, is the 8 harmony ending of Robert Sheldon's main Christmas piece, just here the ending. Gives me chills Everytime... Ah, "a most wonderful Christmas" is the name of the piece.
Hey Brendan, I have a couple questions regarding the Jinbao Contrabass Clarinet you bought a while back. I've been trying to get one for a while and would like answers to the following questions: 1: What should i do with the instruments case? (in the first video of your Jinbao Contrabass Clarinet i noticed how flimsy the case was but i don't know how to fix it or where to replace it. If i buy the Jinbao Contrabass what should i do with the case?) 2: Where should i have it repaired/checked over upon arrival? (Is there any specific shop or person i should go to first to have the instrument checked over, i live in Brisbane so i sadly i cannot visit the place you went to have the Contrabass checked over, Is there anyone or anywhere you could recommend?) 3: Is The Jinbao Contrabass Clarinet good for a high school band setting? (If i buy the Contra, i may take it to a few concert bands or clarinet groups. Do you think this Contrabass is good for that kind of setting or should i buy a straight Leblanc from my local music shop for $12,000. What Contrabass would best suit a high school setting?) 4: Is it easy to go from Bass clarinet to Contrabass clarinet (This is a more general question, i play both Bass and Bb clarinet in two of my schools concert bands, I would like to know what to expect the Contra to feel like when i play it for the first time?) Btw You sound excellent on all of your Clarinets, keep the good videos up :)
thanks for your excellent questions! 1) What I did - rip out the flimsy styrofoam that's inside and take the shell to Clark Rubber, they'll fill it with high-density foam (I think it cost about $100) and then you just trace the shape of your contra and cut out the foam with an electric carving knife. There's videos on youtube how to do this mainly for rifles in pelican cases but the methods the same. 2) There's a few good places in Brisbane I would usually go. Ozwinds at Stones Corner, Gabriel Vatavu at Springwood, Geoff Secomb was in Wynnum but I think he's moved somewhere else now. Try Ozwinds first, if they're a bit hesitant you can mention that I had mine done in Melbourne and they can call me to chat about it. They know me quite well there haha. 3) Yes, this instrument would be great for anything you'd need a contrabass for. $12,000 for a straight one!? This one cost me $3000 haha. Go the Jinbao 100% 4) The learning curve is a bit like going from Bb to Bass. All faults an imperfections will be exaggerated, but you get used to it and it should (hopefully) improve your bass playing. Once the instrument is serviced and you get a good mouthpiece then you're really ready to go. Let me know if you get one! Good luck!
