Repertoire: The IDEAL Clarinet Concerto Collection

Major concertos for woodwind instruments tend to be few and far between, but if there is any exception to this general rule, it involves the clarinet. Ever since Mozart's iconic Clarinet Concerto, there have been some excellent works written for clarinet and orchestra, and I'll let you know which ones belong on any music lover's essential list.

[@alexoglez]

What a great video! As a clarinet student I find this list perfect to everyone knows the beauty and virtuosity of this marvelous instrument🎶

[@robertcurry7664]

…and a HUGE thank you for the introduction to the Crusell concerti!….they’re fantastic! Just wonderful! 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🥰

[@ABC_Guest]

So much great Clarinet Concerto repertoire! Loved the inclusion of Crusell here. I would definitely add Magnus Lindberg's concerto, it's really one of my favorite works of all time - it's "accessible" but also unapologetically modern, with a fabulous soundscape and virtuosic writing! I guess you mentioned that newer works might get a separate talk. I think Françaix has a pretty good one as well. Bruch's concerto for clarinet & viola is very nice too.

[@fulltongrace7899]

I love the Hindemith Clarinet concerto. Very lyrical and with a coloristic blending of other woodwind and brass accompaniment. Martin Frost and George Pieterson both have recordings of it.

[@BrilliantClassics]

Thanks, David!

[@DarklordofBarovia]

Looking forward to the modern clarinet concertos! Martin Frost is high on my list of go-to musicians if I'm in the mood for some woodwind!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

He's terrific, I agree.

[@miketackett4283]

For something fiendishly difficult, try the John Coriglione clarinet concerto....

[@winslowrogers2026]

thanks for the Dvorak reference. Of course the slow movement of Rachmaninov's 2nd symphony is also to die for.

[@stayoutofmyhouse]

Great video, I've been waiting for some woodwind concerto recommendations. I might be the only one, but I'd love to see bassoon concertos next!

[@pbarach1]

Bernstein's Prelude, Fugue, and Riffs belongs on this excellent list! It was finished in 1949, a year after Benny Goodman premiered the Copland, but it wasn't premiered until 1955.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I was considering that, but I don't think it's quite popular enough--yet. That may just be my impression. Love the piece, though.

[@Cornodebassetto]

The Bernstein is not really a concerto as only one movement features the clarinet.

[@steventharp]

Some dogs have a thing about the clarinet. I was sponsoring a house concert once and a friend brought over his clarinet. My West Highland Terrier took one look at it and began growling. When my friend began to play it, all hell broke loose: barking, snarling, snapping, etc. We had to take the dog to a kennel for a couple of hours to have the concert!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Must be those ultrasonic overtones that only dogs can hear. I had enough trouble with the ones I could hear.

[@alanmcginn4796]

Dave. Wonderful talk. Truly educational. I am ashamed to admit it, but my 'clarinet' repertoire representation in my collection is embarrassingly small. I have the Frost Mozart disc that everybody knows and loves. I have the Frost Weber. And that is pretty much it!! Embarrassing I know. Some of these composers on the Brilliant Classics box set I have not even heard of. So, Amazon is offering the complete Brilliant Box for 8.99 on digital download and I am going to 'try and buy' all 14 discs and from there will get key repertoire etc. The bank account continues to get hit, but the mind is becoming so much less ignorant. Thank you for all that you give to our little community on a daily basis. You are truly part of my daily life. And I am so thankful for that.

[@gerthenriksen8818]

Thanks, very rewarding and entertaining! Being an European, I have found out that the Copland Concerto have become one of the most performed concertos in Europe. And by the way, I played the clarinet myself for many years in my younger years.

[@mattestabrook]

Great talk-I can't wait for the "modern" sequel. I have been enjoying the new Naxos recording of the Hindemith (which also appears in the Brilliant Classics box). I also enjoy the Arnold and Aho concertos.

[@tortuedelanuit2299]

Yay! I was looking forward to this video as a serious amateur clarinetist. The most remarkable pre-modern clarinet concerto that I have discovered is Dieter Klocker's reconstructed Reicha in G minor, with a marvellous middle movement from a concerto by Muller, a clarinetist-composer/innovator. This is easily found on KZbin. I eagerly anticipate a video on clarinet quintets, mentioning favorites by Mozart, Weber, Brahms, Reicha in Bb major, Fuchs, Hindemith (including a wonderful Eb clarinet movement), and delightful Meyerbeer not-so-juvenalia. I personally enjoy Sabine Meyer on basset clarinet in the Mozart concerto. There are some recordings that grate my nerves, like Marcellus and Szell, where you can hear Marcellus losing breath support in the Rondo. And finally, I can confirm that dogs are deathly afraid of clarinet. It must have overtones like a vacuum cleaner.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Thank you for solving the canine mystery. I'm glad to know it wasn't just me.

[@Mooseman327]

Best analysis of Spohr's music...ever.

[@bingbongtoysKY]

My Father is on his way over to my home to bury our Pomeranian Pogo...I've dug the tiny grave- and the ONLY thing that is consoling me is the adagio from Mozart's clarinet concerto- it's like a giant blue blanket, confirming that everything is going to be ok- that is the power of music- what would we do when we are scared at night without Mozart? ❤ thank you for listening Dave

[@andreashorwath6854]

I have always felt that Karl Amadeus Hartmann's Kammerkonzert (for clarinet, string quartet, and string orchestra) is a terrific piece ... so hauntingly beautiful and atmospheric.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

...and totally unknown...

[@tovelarsen4802]

Hello Dear Mr. Hurwitz. I couldn`t agree more with Your love for this wonderful, mellowsounding and versatile instrument. I too have taken it up in middlelife, as a diversion to my violinistic aspirations, and if for nothing else, it gave me deep respect towards the people that really know how to put their tongue and lips arund that tricky mouthpiece. I concur with almost all your preferences in the clarinetfield, although the Weber works newer touched my heart particularly. I`m especially happy, though, about Your special preference for the Nielsen concerto, as it really is original and exciting and wry and beatiful, but coming from an insightful non-dane (Nielsen of course was danish) your praise has much more weight than the usual excited outburst from us, his fellow countrymen. Newcomers to Nielsen really are in for a treat - believe us! You know - and this in my ears is as much praise to Nielsen as it is to the generosity of his Finnish collegue - Sibelius once said to Nielsen: Compared to You, my talent doesn`t reach Your ancles.. As usual it is a joy to listen to your insightful comments, and even your harsh words on Mr. Spohr are quite deserved, but allow me to direct Your attention to the one or few exception(s) in his oevre -in my humble o. - as I have always cherished some of his chamber works for multiple instruments, which actually could be said to be quasi-symphonic (high and low strings and diff. woodwinds): his Nonet, octet and septet - often with lovely prominent clarinet parts too. Even orchestras tormented with his many lesser symphonic outbursts should forgive him after listening to these minor pearls. But anyway: Keep on talking, friend - wee`l be listening! Yours Lars.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Thanks for your comments. I agree that there is some Spohr which is delightful, especially the chamber works for mixed ensembles, where he could relax and not take himself so bloody seriously.

[@williamfarr8807]

Frank Zappa’s Mo’ N Herb’s Vacation is a piece of program music that is sort of a clarinet concerto in disguise. The only recording I know of is Kent Nagano conducting the London Symphony Orchestra with David Ocker on clarinet. But it might be one for that “post 1950 other talk”.

[@brutusalwaysminded]

What a great idea. Thanks, Mr. H.

[@rtisom]

Ferenc Fricsay conducted a delightful rendition of the Mozart concerto, with a clarinetist named Heinrich Geuser. It’s beautiful and amazing, like all of Fricsay’s Mozart.

[@markmiller3713]

Eugene Ormandy recorded a delightful version of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto. You can get that along with the horn concerti and flute and bassoon concerti on a box set from Sony. All of them are excellent performances.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Yes, they are. I was going to do a separate talk about it, possibly.

[@americanmultigenic]

Krommer suddenly was in vogue (and then some) circa 1976-77-78 possibly with the booster-ism of Jack Brymer.

[@HD-su9sq]

(I didn’t need my dog to tell me that I wasn’t very good with the clarinet.) I love the clarinet for its colour, and most of these works are news to me. THANK YOU!

[@jfddoc]

The third movement of the Weber 2nd Concerto is also an "alla Polacca." For the Weber pieces, I grew up imprinting on the old David Glazer recordings on Turnabout (available and cheap).

[@josephdvorak9241]

Weinberg and Francaix concertos are amazing too!

[@DiegoGonzalez-nv9qv]

I would add the Krommer clarinet concertos as well- elegant and vastly entertaining.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I mentioned them. They are in the Brilliant Classics box.

[@arneheinemann3893]

I have only one additional suggestion: Antonio Casimir Cartellieri (with Dieter Klöcker on Dabringhaus und Grimm). I know the Finzi, but not the Stanford concerto. Thank you for your inspiring videos. Today the Tippett piano concerto came (with Ogdon) !

[@santiagoespinosa4154]

Great recomendations, David. You should make a video about the Great cello concertos.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I did.

[@jeffreywillson6275]

I'm a fan of the Spohr piano trios, and I wasn't sure where to continue exploring with that composer. OK, clarinet concertos. Thank you.

[@enriquelasansky2278]

Here’s a great one: Debussy Premiere Rhapsody for Clarinet and Orchestra. It really is a mini- concerto. Absolutely beautiful work! Despite the promise of the title, it is the only work of it’s kind by Debussy.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

...other than the Saxophone Rhapsody.

[@omarfong-bances7427]

Thank you for highlighting clarinet concertos! I love all your recommendations. I am curious about your opinion of Cahuzac's recording of the Nielsen, one of my favorite recordings. Have you given thought to highlight saxophone concertos/concertinos/etc? For example, Glazunov, Ibert, Villa-Lobos, Dahl, Binge, Hartley, all great works and some with wind ensemble. Please contemplate and I look forward to it.

[@k3nye]

Did you ever make that promised follow up to this video? I tried searching, but cant find anything! You're too prolific, which is a good problem for a viewer like me to have 😂!

[@miketackett4283]

I guessed right on Mozart, Weber, Copland, and Nielsen, but the others were a revelation - wunderbar! Can tuba concertos be far behind?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Right after the contrabassoon and the left-handed sewer flute...

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

@@allenwilliams1306 What about it?

[@murraylow4523]

Thanks, Dave. There was a "Building a Library" feature on Copland's clarinet concerto on BBC Radio 3 a few weeks back - dunno if you can access this on BBC sounds though, if you aren't a license fee payer... But I came away with the impression that it gets played quite a lot now, at least over here. and there seemed to be a lot of very good recent recordings. The original one with Goodman did get a lot of credit though. On the more modern ones, maybe you might say something about Carter's? I know his music is really difficult to tune into, but he was such an intelligent and very nice guy, it'd be a shame to leave it out. It kept my attention when I saw Michael Collins do it in a Carter celebration thing here some years ago now (Carter was there). Seemed an odd thing for him to do so late in his career, but maybe not so unlike Nielsen (or Mozart even) in that respect ;)

[@ZviNetanel]

I highly recommend the Mozart Concerto with Sharon Kam on Warner coupled with a wonderful clarinet concerto by Krommer. Another wonderful piece is Strauss' Duet Concertino for clarinet and Bassoon. A late piece in Strauss' oeuvre full of joyous and springily (is that a valid word?) spirit.

[@jeroendejong6680]

Debussy Rhapsodie? No? Tiny piece, but sooo lovely!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I agree, but it's one of those short ones--although it's roughly as long as the Ebony Concerto, actually...so you have a point.

[@ZviNetanel]

David mentions concertos by Vivaldi. Beware of a new CD of "clarinet concertos" by Vivaldi played by Martin Frost (SONY). Basically it's a fraud. Those are arrangements of arias and other musical movements put together in a frame of concertos. Lovely music but not concertos.

[@CloudyMcCloud00]

I think your eyesight let you down a bit there, Dave! There's only one Spohr concerto in C minor (No.1). The others are (chronologically) in E-flat major, F minor and E minor. Anyway -- you've got me into buying CD's again! (I ordered 5 in the past week.) I've never been entirely satisfied with my Spohr set with Michael Collins -- so am now eyeing up your Leister recommendation! Thanks for the great videos!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Hmm. I though I was reading from the back of the discs, but who knows? Thanks for the correction.

[@CloudyMcCloud00]

@@DavesClassicalGuide I think you were. It's in lower case -- easy to mistake an e for a c. 🙂

[@rbmelk7083]

Great video and insights! I will take your advice to give the Spohr concerti a listen despite having heard ANYTHING by Spohr that I liked. On a related topic, would you be willing to make an analogous video about viola concerti, and, if so, can you offer your thoughts on the Rubbra Viola Concerto?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Sure, in due course.

[@kaiserthegreat]

Asthmatics SHOULD play wind instruments. Buffs up the lungs!

[@ZizHunter]

Hello Dave, I know you mentioned that you wanted to do a talk on the horn in a previous chat. Would you be willing to do a list like this for horn concertos and related pieces (like the Brahms trio and the Mozart quintet)? I am a high school horn player and I would like to hear what you think the best stuff is.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

It's a pretty small list, but I'll think about it!

[@kenscarborough3225]

@@DavesClassicalGuide Oooo...love to hear your thoughts/recommendation the Schumann Konzertstuck!

[@ultradmann2367]

This was a great talk. I don't know if you'd consider it, but would you ever do a wind band rep talk? Maybe entry level composition like Holst or Grainger? Just a thought.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I have a whole playlist dedicated to this repertoire. Have a look: kzbin.info/aero/PLAjIX596BriE_NB4X6-mufOMbVS2yyqh7

[@ultradmann2367]

@@DavesClassicalGuideThis is awesome thanks🎊🎉

[@davec3545]

Thought you might mention the Mathias. Not popular, of course.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Exactly.

[@davidhickey1182]

The Ebony Concerto was written for Woody Herman.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I said that.

[@olegroslak852]

These talks are getting freaking expensive!