BLACK by Marc Mellits (For 2 all-black bass clarinets. Hell yes.)

So, the Ninja Selmer Privilege arrived. What better piece to inaugurate it than BLACK by Marc Mellits? While wearing all black? It's like a black hole in the middle of the video, sucking up all awesomeness into its awesomeness-vortex. (Is that nerdy enough for you?)

[@kennykeppel3353]

the page turn!

[@kool_kid_1015]

that sounded lit af for some reason

[@emilynightingale7758]

1:32 i think the perfectly timed page turn was the best part of the piece

[@whistling_klutz]

I cannot hear this piece (at least, the versions for two players) without mentally inserting the sound of the dang page turn...

[@fernie51296]

This is probably the best I've ever heard a bass clarinet sound. It's just so full sounding.

[@kirin8735]

I've played on a replica model and well it's just amazing I dont think any other model of bass clarinet could feel any better

[@francissadleir9805]

@@kirin8735 not just the instrument, michael lowenstern has one of the fattest sounds I've ever heard

[@whitmercer4210]

Same

[@whitmercer4210]

What brand makes this bass clarinet

[@francissadleir9805]

@@whitmercer4210 its a selmer

[@noahstone3879]

I love how, if you listen carefully, you can hear the lines mirrored in the overtones

[@mattj313]

Are the reeds black though

[@lennyonbassoon3979]

Synthetic Resin Reeds

[@Jowser1342]

1:30 literally sounds like boss music in a retro rpg game haha, but as a highschool Bass Clarinet player this just makes me so happy to watch, super inspiring

[@mdickinson]

That was really thoughtful of Selmer to make two identical instruments especially for the purpose of playing this piece!

[@kimo3813]

why not one? the two clarinets shown might be the same one

[@mdickinson]

+Kim Tae Won ya think? 🤔

[@kimo3813]

Ye and I think it will be damn expensive if he ordered two 😂

[@sequoyahcisneros8719]

@@kimo3813 r/woooosh

[@oleflogger6828]

Yeah, but, who cloned Michael Lowenstern?

[@chancepricee]

That synchronized page flip though. Lol, absolutely love your videos. Finally someone who shows off Bass Clarinet!

[@TarrinLupo]

Pretty bad ass, I wish I could even come close to playing like this.

[@21mbeezy]

You can, If you practice. He has a lower range bass clarinet (Idk if he mentioned) Its a few thousand dollars plus the music piece, which should be in the teens.

[@aidangrivas7060]

Yesterday I had just visited the tmea convention, and because I had my mouthpiece and reed on me I could play on soprano and bass clarinets. One thing that really caught me off guard is the fact that they had a replica of this that was made by selmer! The person at the booth explained to me that there are actually currently three of these in the world, and they cost around 20 thousand dollars! It was probably the best bass clarinet that I've her gotten to play on ever. One table over there was also an all metal clarinet that was certainly very good but had a little bit of edge to it's sound, but it was very good sounding in the louder volumes.

[@graysontamez9714]

i saw that bass at tmea last year-of course it was on the only day i left my bag with my mouthpieces behind because i thought i’d already found everything worth trying. hopefully it’ll be back this year so i can finally play it!

[@NainUsar]

This composition has some serious heavy riffing (to speak in guitar terms). My love for the bass clarinet was already growing by every video on you channel I watched, but this one seriously took it up to a whole new level. Thank you so much!

[@davidsmart8594]

Black keys? Anodised? Looks and sounds superb. Edit: Chrome should stand up to wear...you lucky devil, you.

[@bubo8329]

Love that hemiola feeling section in the middle

[@def1ghi]

My daughter recently stated learning bass clarinet and it's become one of my favorite things to listen to. Your all-black instrument is SUPER COOL!

[@RaincloudTheDragonXD]

putting one part on the left and the other on the right is SUCH a good touch

[@loladwyer6743]

There are two evil people in this world. The two who disliked this video

[@nikomitrione]

Lola Dwyer now it's eight evil people... It's ok...I live near a church!

[@StantawnKendrick]

this was AWESOME

[@gilliamwilbert496]

The page flip was epic. Great playing and very inspiring.

[@orcaandrea]

Oh my god! This looks beautiful! You sound great, as always!

[@AB-vv7fl]

LOVE IT! I played an alto clarinet for a new years and loved it too.

[@malcmmm]

I agree....that was an amazing piece of music. GOOD JOB!

[@rockoutdave411]

What a stunning instrument.

[@scrapstreams]

Our son and I were DROOLING over your GORGEOUS all-black bass clarinet yesterday.... LOVE it!

[@mdrapkin]

Your tone is so perfectly matched!

[@moistsentientbagel5116]

Those articulations are so clear

[@user-cr8zz1xn6m]

バスクラリネットの音が力強く出ていてカッコイイ

[@RMutt-gw6uz]

Dear Mr. Lowenstern You rock! (and your back bass clarinet too!)

[@sbent518]

WOW, what a piece! Seem like a really interesting horn!

[@TheKarliJo]

That is so beautiful.

[@paulsage6849]

I mean how much blacker!!! Seriously, what a great piece of music and thank YOU for being so.......black x

[@moonchild7915]

I would kill for that bass clarinet its beautiful and sounds supurb! how much did it cost?

[@isaiahrodriguez9916]

Hannah Dunn 12,000

[@RossiniSoprano]

Also, please realize it sounds so good because Mike is making it sound that way with his fabulous skill.

[@TheHiddenFlame]

Hannah Dunn I actually met with Wolfgang at my college a week ago, where he told me it would sell for 17,000

[@instrumentguy7574]

$21,000

[@kirin8735]

@@RossiniSoprano well yeah but this thing sounds good on it's own, as long as you know what you're doing it sounds good regardless

[@richardsteinberg7654]

Lovely playing!

[@rezende2024]

My GOD!!! Nice control!!!!!!

[@amiema3775]

Too good! Awesome. I think I'll buy the music!

[@mezzrow99]

What a wonderful "dark beast" sound, Michael! I can hear it, too. As always thanks for the vid! My custom job would carve "Bete Noir" in where it says Prestige... Can you feel the envy out there?

[@juliyanmartinez3785]

You have such a great tone quality :)

[@ArringtondeDionyso]

Really incredible.

[@mmarakaki1]

Wow, the overtones are so rich!

[@surya5077]

killer page turns

[@oliviergrimm780]

That black beauty of a bass clarinet

[@maestroundefined8746]

It took me a while to decide whether to invest in my own Bass clarinet, my school last year let me have their low Eb Selmer Bundy as a graduation gift, but today, my own Low C Leblanc finally came into the mail today, it sounds amazing and has superb response from what I can see, it's just the fact that since it's a straight 1 piece body, the case is quite difficult to lug around.. Anyways, happy playing! And awesome job, Michael!

[@mmfsonb3252]

This is truly amazing

[@NitsedFTW]

that's the most badass instrument I've ever seen.

[@SharkQu33n]

I really want one of those bass clarinet!!

[@stefanocardo]

Great!!!!! Bravo!

[@HISPEEDLEVEL]

Anyway it's terrific! Потрясающе!

[@luisamariaraigosa4900]

The Ninja is amazing! We got to see one at the University of Delaware's Clarinet Day! This is great!

[@rocfabregasans8246]

Oh, so good!!!

[@JessicaHarrie]

Fantastic!

[@byxPaU]

Really good! I want to try this black bass clarinet:D

[@lisadevlin4288]

Awesome. Love this piece; it's been sitting on my stand for ages while I figure out transposing bits on account of my lack of a low C :)

[@Musix4me-Clarinet]

Heh...pretty damn cool all the way around. Thanks for sharing!

[@shunt0141]

Immaculate in sound and in style! If only these were for sale... well I suppose that is irrelevant because I'm stuck with my school's old school spit machine. But until the end of this year, it's my spit machine!

[@DanGotDis]

This piece is super trippy with headphones! Love it though

[@gameaddiction7731]

This was an interesting way of doing a duet.

[@nickjernigan9173]

The "Black"ed out bass is beautiful, jealous af. Good audio qual while recording, love the sqwonk version of For the bell tollls, would love to see a version of that from you..

[@nickjernigan9173]

Hallowed be they name

[@Mahlerlover21]

I've been a fan of yours for 8 years or so and now I'm studying composition with Dr. Mellits at UIC, how things come together...

[@stevenshockley4237]

How does one get all black parts? That's just amazing, and it sounds so full, I absolutely love this...

[@tofu.delivery.]

that was so cool

[@beno_it5593]

this is so good :o

[@aucisinnersyn5890]

I love this piece SOOOOO much. But is it just me or did you have to rough cut the right side because of a mess up or camera mess up. I noticed a little glitch at 2:48 in the video where your earbud moved. I'm sure this probably took a few takes but it shows that everybody needs a redo sometimes. I also just found it funny haha. I love your channel😁😁😁

[@Jacobcherryhorror66]

that was awesome

[@williamteske5978]

A buddy and I are gonna play this I'm so exited

[@Monke2120]

I got to play the replica at the Texas state clarinet fiesta it was awesome, I want this thing so bad haha.

[@kirin8735]

Yeah this thing is a monster

[@1millioncicades183]

Amazing :)

[@RhythmAddictedState]

I like how you turn the pages in rhythm

[@pranavbatra3161]

holy. i need one.

[@kylejahimiak5010]

The page swipe at 1:35 tho

[@jamesperdue8355]

See this proves twins are equally talented. Wow...

[@michaelmullmusic]

oh so funky

[@yoshiabe1092]

すげー、上手いな。今まで聞いたBass Clarinetのbest Soundだな。

[@cameronjeffers8232]

Thanks!

[@Sebasstian86]

What a fantastic piece! The stereo effect of the two parts converging and bouncing back and forth comes out really well in your recording. I would love to be able to adapt and play this piece on bass guitar, but with my untrained barbaric hands it would take years of practice to master this composition. Quick question, how much would a digital version of the score for 'Black' cost?

[@ghostfruit3927]

I wish I've found this sooner...

[@noahhall8090]

3 things: sounds fantastic. Such a clear and robust sound. I was wondering if you'd make a side by side comparison of this instrument and your previous horn, because while the sound is noticably darker, it might be useful to keep the music and equipment constant to judge accurately. Further more, could you realistically play this in an orchestra? While it looks extremely cool, and sounds great, the sound is noticably more different to the extent that I'd be hesitant to use this for any orchestral playing, as based on this recording, the sound is significantly different than other recordings I've heard of yours and my own experience playing bass clarinet.

[@derrickbrown8694]

Wow!

[@tinapowell8282]

I play the bass clairnet at my school but i have not played it in a while because it broke this video make me miss it lol btw i love your videos

[@connor3308]

dope

[@GeoMEtryManGD]

Hey Michael, I really enjoy your videos, and I have a suggestion for you. There's a book of music I have that's called "The Clarinet In the Attic", which has 20 short pieces that are hard for me but should be pretty easy for you. The songs in it are all really good and fun to play, and it will give you something to do for a little while :) I recommend you should buy it, because it's a really good book.

[@jweezellipz5987]

The hocket was not in the pocket.

[@earspasm]

True.

[@aidenbrandenburg9884]

i think me (a sophomore) and another one of my bass clarinet friends (a senior) might do this duet this year for solo and ensemble

[@mattcharuka6134]

Hey! I love your work and I'm using your circular breathing video to become a better clarinet/bass clarinet player!!! If you don't mind, could you tell me what the all black bass clarinet you have there is? It both looks and sounds fantastic and I would love to look into getting one for myself. Keep up the good work!!

[@vaniz766]

Muito bom.

[@SonnenShades]

Where would one come across a beautiful instrument such as this?

[@ethannylander]

I've never seen all black bass clarinets before!

[@nickc1887]

My dreams have come true!!😭 and with an all black bass!! Goodbye world I am ready to leave now a happy man

[@elmariachi2673]

The page then is beautiful I swear

[@aidangrivas7060]

Dat page turn doe

[@MauricioVargas-bg3or]

This is awesome. Totally radical. Except for those white earphones...

[@HISPEEDLEVEL]

Next time we are waiting for the quartet

[@calebprovencher7727]

Does this song work on black bass clarinets with silver keys?

[@MrSuperpancho9]

Please put this on your soundcloud! Its really good!

[@cameronjeffers8232]

yes

[@karremansmusic]

this I really amazing. I really want to play this soon too! And the clarinet looks amazing. But I love that the sound is louder because of the materials ( the sound is what it's all about isn't it? , I sometimes have troubles projecting my sound as much on my bass clarinet. could be a gear thing though. Any suggestions?

[@karremansmusic]

+Derek Cliff Crane yes. Air flow. Air pressure. Everything. the key word is sometimes. I was just looking for tips on good gear. New mouthpieces etc.. So that would be more helpful!

[@carlosservin5642]

I'm in love with that instrument. Do you think I could get and instrument like that

[@RichardTolbert]

In a word...Legit.

[@AnAmericanlinguist]

How many bass clarinets do you have? I love your videos. Even though I don't play bass, you inspire me to keep practicing and playing Bflat clarinet.

[@earspasm]

I am lucky enough to have three.

[@alternatefaerie3575]

How do you get such a beautiful instrument

[@BenjaminSorrellSax]

Which pads are these? TREEPUR- Silent Pads? I've wanted to experiment with something like this on a secondary saxophone. So many quiet classical saxophone piece could benefit from a bit quieter keywork!

[@marcoapaza5047]

Hi...!!!! I like the pieces... where can I find this music ??? :)