Danse Macabre for four bass clarinets: Edmund Welles live

August 3, 2011 Clarinetfest in Northridge.
Live at Valley Performing Arts Center.
The end of our set at this fun show in a big hall. Danse Macabre by Saint-Saens arranged for four bass clarinets by Cornelius Boots in 2009.
This is a very challenging arrangement! But also very fun.
You can buy it here
potenzamusic.com/product/dans...

[@andrewgabaldon1451]

We bass clarinetist don’t realize how amazing our instrument is. And how amazing we can become with it if we just practice more.

[@jeshuaferro2036]

Andrew Gabaldon honestly tho

[@jamzam9807]

My friends always like “high notes on a bass clarinet?!?! That’s sacrilege!!” and I’m like “But... this”

[@IsaacW.]

They just say that cuz they're bad and can't hit those notes lol. No offense to your friend tho lolol.

[@ganeshgajavelli1487]

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! ALTISSIMO AND GLISSANDO ON FREAKING BASS CLARINET?!!?! THAT'S FLIPPIN' AWESOME1!11!!!!11!

[@IiIiIiIOnTop]

Ganesh Gajavelli FUCKING*

[@singaporeseaslugs1393]

Ganesh Gajavelli i dont hear glissando

[@Melchpe]

Being a bass clarinetist is awesome I love it so much, many people don’t realize how much potential this instrument holds even bass clarinetist like me.

[@zanejensen7403]

Grossitzmel bass clarinet is easily the most underrated instrument. I blame middle/high school band directors who reserve barely functional bass clarinets for their worst players

[@JiveDadson]

Thank Adolphe Sax. Yes, that Adolphe Sax.

[@JiveDadson]

@@zanejensen7403 If there's anything I've learned from comment sections, it's that everything and everyone is underrated. Makes me wonder who is doing the rating.

[@froggirl0]

Who says you can't vibrato on a bass clarinet! Very beautiful sound, almost like a cello..I aspire to perform like this one day.

[@ethancampbell9096]

I literally shake my instrument to make vibrato when I think it make the music sound better, which is generally just for auditions

[@snalls420]

i don’t think anyone has ever said that

[@johnspence5689]

Band directors just don’t want you too when playing a bass part.

[@MildAMildlyyAdequate]

Proud to play this awesome instrument....

[@SoupyHere]

Back again for my yearly watch.

[@nomb3179]

Being a bb clarinetist, these notes don't sound very high, but from a bass clarinetist's perspective it must be much different.

[@DAEX04]

Nomb_teh_Ultimate 317 oh yeah

[@choopy8115]

Definitely

[@Belle-hi4bl]

Its absolutely insane lol

[@jeshuaferro2036]

YES haha

[@Moldoro]

I haven't played mine in a long time, but going from freely dancing in the higher notes on the Bb to a bass I legit had panic attacks seeing high notes

[@dbadagna]

Gorgeous sound and amazing arrangement. All four players are real musicians' musicians!

[@emilyekmm]

I'm proud as well to be playing this wonderful instrument.

[@Sky-fr8uq]

This should have millions of views

[@ChokoMurasaki]

I am so glad I switched to bass clarinet! :D

[@choopy8115]

Raven A. Storm same

[@zanejensen7403]

Respect

[@ethansmith2319]

Yus

[@SHIP-IT]

Fellow bass comrade

[@sarahoakes5843]

That was incredible. Loved it. They look like they're having such fun! . Such an enjoyable piece m. And oh that sound of the bass clarinet with its deep mellow notes I could listen to it for hours and it will always bring a smile to my heart it's so beautiful. Loved it.

[@alyssapaull2128]

As a mere freshman bass clarinetist, I aspire to one day be this talented

[@bbassclarinet8507]

sameee

[@ethancampbell9096]

It's been 3 years. Hows your progress to being like them going?

[@cooperherberger9996]

You are a senior now, how is your progress?

[@Alviniscute]

@@cooperherberger9996 I feel like Alyssa's senior bass clarinet practices were cut short thanks to covid

[@jackcallahan1848]

You’re a senior now...

[@_merrymoon_]

めっちゃ好きな曲！バスクラぴったりすぎるしスラップタンギング綺麗すぎ

[@Auxitras]

GAH OMG I WANT THE MUSIC FOR THIS. Sorry, just had a mini freakout there, I LITERALLY was playing the melody for this today because I thought it'd sound cool on the bass clarinet. You guys are so great

[@cecedietlein5889]

It's available for $30 on JWPepper :) It's really fun to play, and it will challenge your range.

[@cecedietlein5889]

I also just realized your comment was from 5 years ago...But I mean, hey, if you still play the bass clarinet, why not?

[@davidmella1174]

@@cecedietlein5889 the original commenter is an OG...

[@brookebutler5248]

We are playing this piece in my high school marching band. And this sounds sooo much better than the version we are playing. And I don't play bass I play soprano :(

[@ric9452]

Luv it !!!!

[@whoitisnot]

Damn. I was at this event. Very sorry to have missed this fine performance. Bravo! The costumes are a nice touch.

[@GracetheHufflepuff]

this is AMAZING! This makes me so happy to be a bass clarinet player :)

[@oleflogger6828]

I just started taking BC lessons, at the age of 76. And, I have no prior clarinet experience. Duh. I had no idea there were sooo many "alternate keys" for fine-tuning or for fast passages. Listening to this - I'm super impressed by the possibilities. Great Work, gentlemen!!

[@mezzrow99]

ordered the parts and score, following along. It's good to have a goal. Great stuff, gentlemen. Giant props to C.B. for the work to get this down.

[@TumblingMustard]

This never gets old. Love it.

[@xaviox]

Absolutely magical.

[@punzmusic]

Bravissimi!

[@AveryMilieu]

OH! This is a delight!

[@Baglees]

Superb!

[@WillieWagglestick]

This is great!

[@MrJapanese25]

Fantastic musicians!

[@brycemchugh3809]

This is amazing. Great job 👍

[@lamaspacos]

MANY THANKS.

[@dogsrmessy]

Wow! Superb.

[@julianaamato7410]

astonishing!

[@marianelavargas8976]

Muy pero muy bueno me quede sorprendida lo que puede hacer un cl Bjo..

[@charlespoole2320]

This goes really well for 4 bass clarinets. Surprised!

[@tollbridge1928]

respect.

[@jexselzayas3149]

same.Here!

[@AshBarkPerson]

I hope they do this again on better recording equipment, it sounds incredible but is hurt by the recording quality.

[@rdraznik]

Thanks, but I want the recording.......not the sheet music

[@TrashJunkie1234]

Fossora

[@rdraznik]

How can I purchase the sound clip?

[@carmynwellden6007]

Where can I get the sheet music

[@DAEX04]

Carmyn Wellden check the description

[@mikesb69-87]

I heard somewhere that this bass instrument can play 4 octaves..... how can that be possible?!

[@Sam-kp8ql]

Mikesb69 - usually most instruments can play 3-4 octaves, i’m not sure what the ‘fancy explanation’ is but as a bass clarinetist, it’s probably because of the amount of keys

[@grima5788]

Part of it is being in the clarinet family, which already has a massive range spanning 3 octaves and than a bit more depending on who you ask. For bass clarinet, some instruments play down to low C which gives you 5 extra notes below what can be written for soprano clarinet, plus the already absurd range of the clarinet. Bass clarinets easily play up to altissimo G, and even more skilled players can take the range an octave above that using partials and some magic fingerings. So a breakdown of what the bass clarinet range looks like on staff paper starts at the C 5 ledger lines and a space below the staff, and up to G 7 ledger lines and a space above the staff. A few people can even play a C 9 ledger lines above the staff, which would sound like a double altissimo C coming out of a soprano clarinet.

[@ethancampbell9096]

So with professional instruments, the lowest note you can play is a low c. Then an octave above that is another c. Then an octave above that is the c that you might use as a tuning note if you tune to concert b flat. Then an octave above that is the thumb and register key c, which is as high as most composers are willing to write and most musicians are willing to play outside of scales. Then an octave above that is the very, very high altisimo c, which I've never had to play to for anything, but I can in a chromatic scale. So that's 5 c octaves of c

[@jumpingjflash]

Can't see what the middle two are doing

[@baylees2245]

I play b flat clarinet I'm curious is it hard to produce a sound with a bass clarinet?

[@andrewkim9090]

Baylee Ahn I'd say it's around the same, there's just more air and a larger embouchure because of the instrument size. For me (as a student), an interesting thing I noticed was that the upper clarion range is harder to produce, but the altissimo notes are super easy and stable.

[@grima5788]

@@andrewkim9090 the upper clarion changes depending on the instrument as far as I've seen. My school has a buffet professional bass that struggles in the clarion F to high C range, and then plays everything else just dandy. Then there's a Selmer wooden bass that plays those notes much more freely than the buffet does, though it doesn't have the tone I'm going for.

[@TheDoctorsButtercup]

So after playing with the Bass for 11 years, I can say it's a pain in the ass with most basses. Even now and then you get a holy grail bass that has no arguments and plays beautifully. Most are unhappy to relinquish the notes. Oddly enough learning the control for the higher range requires specific muscles in the lips that I find intensely difficult. But much of it is practice, control, and experience

[@sharkmanyt4431]

6/8

[@josephsteinman7224]

Very strange. From the music to their outfits.

[@feminaesapienti3456]

De puta madre muy bien!! Pero creo que les chilla el clarinete en dos ocssioes!!!

[@SHIP-IT]

A bass clarinet cult? Where is the application papers?

[@johnpaulgeorring]

I march this shit

[@mistahsusan2650]

I shit this march

[@JAMes-vc6gd]

cool, circular breathing

[@musemaker7477]

*dies*

[@Jaujau933]

All played much too loud 😱 why do they have those ridiculous outfits ????