Libertango played on the E flat Alto Clarinet

Libertango played on the E flat Alto Clarinet by TKWO principal Alto Clarinetist Kiyoshi Arai

[@timothytikker3834]

Proving that the alto clarinet is "the best of both," combining the beautiful tones of the soprano and bass clarinets!

[@nathanmcmath]

This is some of the best alto clarinet playing out there.

[@leonply]

His attack and fluid style brings out the best of this 1970s Leblanc Alto. I like the fact that he removed the marching band lyre holder near the neck!

[@super-otter]

アルトクラでこれほど音程と音色が良いとは....カルチャーショックです。さすが新井先生！！

[@Cutekat45]

I already love the Alto Clarinet! I love how it looks like a mini bass clarinet (which I play) and it sounds beautiful. Sadly, I would love to play it but the only two the band has are literally broken in half :(!

[@JHouse4]

re @ all the comments "puffing cheeks is bad" Not necessarily. While it is true that allowing your cheeks to puff (particularly as a young player) can lead to poor tone production on any wind instrument, cheek inflation ON ITS OWN has no ill effects - as demonstrated by this alto clarinetist who is a better player than anybody in this comments section. Cheek inflating is only bad in the sense that it makes it more difficult to learn good habits and good embouchure. Think of it like this - cheek puffing is itself not a problem, but it can easily cause other ACTUAL problems. If you can carefully avoid those problems, then there's nothing wrong with puffing.

[@Squirrel2069]

What about unless you're circular breathing?

[@mambojazz1]

A dumb comment. Are you principal clarinetist of an orchestra? That cheek puffing bull is only for beginners! A seasoned pro can do whatever he likes.

[@03Venture]

You nailed it right there; no further comment needed..!

[@mambojazz1]

@@03Venture The entire so called cheek puffing discussion is just for amateurs just learning how to play!! This is guy is a clarinet virtuoso he can do whatever he wants!

[@mambojazz1]

You guys are imaging everything. He is the PRINCIPAL clarinetist of the Tokyo Kosei Wind Ensemble the greatest concert band in the world! He can puff whatever he wants it has NOTHING to do with bore size.

[@zacharycoronado6749]

One thing I will say.. I also play on a Leblanc alto clarinet. Puffing your cheeks actually can help quite a bit due to the bore

[@nathanhol42001]

I must say, the timbre of the Leblanc is a lot bigger than other alto clarinet models, it's clearly designed rather differently, so that makes sense

[@mambojazz1]

@@nathanhol42001 You guys are imaging everything. He is the PRINCIPAL clarinetist of the Tokyo Kosei Wind Ensemble the greatest concert band in the world! He can puff whatever he wants it has NOTHING to do with bore size.

[@walthervanlieshout4635]

This is a wonderful expression of Astor Piazzolla's Libertango. The alto clarinet is beautifully into its own.

[@FighterPilot72]

DD: That's /horrible/... Its far from forgotten... Schools with large bands and a lot of clarinets will sometimes move some of their clarinets switch to alto clarinet, because it not only has a lower range, but performs the low notes of the soprano clarinet, better than the soprano clarinet. I think the alto is one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard, and should never be forgotten! >:O

[@lamaspacos]

Performs better the lower notes of the soprano clarinet: True, both in clarino and chamuleau ranges.

[@PsychoPanda3]

i can imagine this being a battle theme in kingdom hearts

[@danny55531]

Samee

[@spicedcoffin]

same

[@ranaanar8221]

Slayy! the bass clarinet now has its own child. just like the tuba and baritone.

[@JazzHatesJohnny]

I love the alto Clarinet. One day in the near future when I’ve practically mastered the saxophone I’ll start playing the alto clarinet.

[@JustOneMoreSecond]

Wow his tone is amazing

[@Smashley_x19]

i use to play the alto clarinet, and i was in love from day one. unfortunately i had to stop between 9th grade and now, but im looking into buying my own, because i completely miss it, so much. i can't wait to play again. i was the only one to play throughout my school district in over 10 years +

[@ronaldthomas74]

Nice piece ,,. Great job piano ,,as well .... Love E flat alto clarinet. !!!!!¡

[@Zennuts1]

This is a great alto clarinet performance.

[@clarinetguy123]

i'm not gonna lie... those notes at 0:50 sent chills down my spine

[@EricFontaineJazz]

ahh my favorite tango piece...played on an alto clarinet, by a Japanese. Beautiful sound he is getting on that.

[@flyboy8492]

yes! i get to play it in the clarinet choir this year!

[@wilson7351]

You and me both lol. In my freshman year I begged my director to let me play it, but she never let me. Yesterday, our drum majors discovered the alto clarinet hiding somewhere and the one in charge of clarinet choir let me play it (after I begged him that night lol) this year! Today I finally got to play it, and considering I can now play almost the entire range on it in only an hour and a half of practice time, I would say I’m slaying.

[@nelsonwong4846]

He is an alto clarinetist from Japan Tokyo Kosei Wind Philharmonic Band.

[@Snowflake2217]

There are only about 3 good pieces ever composed with Alto Clarinet solo in mind... two of which are Grainger's "Lincolnshire Posy" (our community band is playing at our next concert), and VonSuppe's "Poet and Peasant" (states 'alto sax OR alto clarinet solo, so the sax always gets it when we play it).

[@Kiyotea.clarinet]

So I was looking at the clarinets that my school owned, and I discovered an alto clarinet... It was so cool! However, I was surprised by its size! It was a lot smaller than I thought it would be. Anyway, I want to check it out and play it! I hope my director will let me.

[@walthervanlieshout4635]

So beautiful.

[@susangreene6105]

Very good sound. Just an all around awesome job!!

[@dimsimlord]

@KHorbust The alto clarinet is less than 200 years old. It is not the same thing as a basset horn in G. Also, the inventor of the saxophone was trying to make a hybrid of the oboe and clarinet.

[@TheMusicalEvents]

Just beautiful ... thanks for sharing

[@nathanhol42001]

He puffed his cheeks and yet sounded so excellent! How is that?

[@elliotb1137]

Don't know, but I play bass clarinet and I puff my cheeks for a more wholesome sound and it always sounds better than wen I don't puff my cheeks.

[@CrimsonSax]

Nathan Hollis Unless he's doing a "circular breathing" that requires the puffing of cheeks or not if the player is an expert

[@treycrouse7278]

hes not circular breathing

[@clarinetmaster5990]

He’s doing it probably because someone told him that the alto, bass, and contra requires puffed checks for more air. If not... he’s screwing with us

[@zacharycoronado6749]

Because of the bore of the LeBlanc alto clarinet, puffing your cheeks actually can make the tone much better due to needing much more force than almost any other clarinet (that I’ve played).

[@Snowflake2217]

I've been playing alto for ove 15 years and I could never do that!

[@robkunkel8833]

Yes you can … (I wouldn’t know the difference) … but this big clarinet sound is completely enthralling to me. I am just committing myself to get a high end piccolo Eb clarinet and I am already looking at this marvel. The composition is so exciting, too. Super big thanks for downloading. It made my day.

[@ElvenAngel17]

This guy is amazing! :3

[@MaLaBrianna]

i found one of these at my school, and out of bass clarinet, clarinet, and alto clarinet. alto clarinet is best by far

[@aarondminnick]

Great performance! Interesting--the timbre to me is much more similar to the B-flat (soprano) clarinet than the bass clarinet.

[@ponzii1]

mas que som mais MARAVILHOSO ! necessito disto *.*

[@kevinconk8164]

I have hyperdontia it's a tooth condition where I have extra teeth and I puff my cheeks out, but I get a good sound, also type of mouthpiece reed and clarinet you play...

[@blkaznmartin]

@MRmrsMAY It's a Leblanc. They have a unique neck style.

[@LibertangoVieenrose]

great performed. The arrangement is very nice ! I'd like to hear just a bit more "emotion" during playing of piano and clarinet, knowing at the same time this is hard to do... but not impossible. Beside that, I liked it very much. Thanks for presenting it here on Y.T. :-) 5*****

[@JoshJNYC]

@SuperSunkern It's a Leblanc...Leblanc alto clarinets have always been made with a longer neck than most other brands that's double-bent like a bass clarinet neck, with a correspondingly shorter top joint.

[@aznpiccplayer123]

@KyraPractor Range: yes. I think it actually has a bigger range, but for timbre, they're really different.

[@yuutensanke929]

最近はこのタイプのネックのアルトクラリネットをみませんねぇ....

[@tartan11463]

@lookingatthisnow It does not depend on the quality of all instruments.(30%) But it's from your mouth You will need to focus on your mouth and play more (70%). Another one is to move to more number of reeds to sound more good - thick. I am an asia zones are near.I don't know that you will understand ?

[@Neetugj2]

AMAZING

[@Neetugj2]

I like the ending low notes

[@dodddd29383]

amazing!

[@jveal97]

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@andypandy123ish]

I have played the alto clarinet, and I can honestly say it is extremely difficult to play and get used to, especially in the register octave and above. You need to have a strong diaphragm to play this, and I struggled with that, so my teacher told me to slightly puff my cheeks out. I can honestly say it has worked very well, and it sounded a lot better. Well played :)

[@lookingatthisnow]

Beautiful Tone! I wonder what brand of Alto Clarinet that he's using??? I 've heard other Alto Clarinets that didn't play or sound so well...

[@lamp9359]

Well, the tone is beautiful because the player is great! A good player can make a decent sound on any instrument (My saxophone teacher did prove me that in person: he bought the exact same reed and mouthpiece as me, put it on my cheap horn, and played almost just as beautifully as he does on his professional gear) Most alto clarinet players simply aren't alto clarinet players, but soprano clarinets assigned to alto, or just randomly trying an alto clarinet. Edit: Wait that comment is ELEVEN years old? Sorry-

[@millymille1]

so pretty.love it.beutiful.

[@Braziliense1984]

This one is quite hard to tune, I can see that Mr. Arai pulled out the neck around 5mm or more, he may have used tuning rings but I can't tell. Great tone he achieved! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@Snowflake2217]

This guy can puff his cheeks all he wants. I'll wager that NOT ONE of you - especially those of you who criticize - can play like he plays!!! Alto Clarinet is VERY hard to play. The embouchure is different from Bb soprano clarinet and it's VERY hard to keep in tune with the other instruments. This guy is superb!

[@Squirrel2069]

FAB!! It's the "Cello" of clarinets!

[@wildravez9963]

I'd say the bass clarinet is closer to the cello of clarinets.

[@Squirrel2069]

@@wildravez9963 I should have said viola, but you are correct.

[@Momo-ml9ny]

真ん中のAとEsのピッチと戦い続けています…自分もいつかこんな素敵な演奏がしてみたいです！

[@lsdvine]

@buzzy918 i must have misunderstood the part where you said they are not supposed to use vibrato. sorry

[@gypsyvail]

@ORUPRANKSTAZ Actually, I'm guessing his cheeks are puffed because he's circular breathing. There are a couple times in long phrases where his cheeks go flat as he inhales, but *the sound never stops*. Look around the :56 or 1:05 marks. It might be an artifact of the recording, but I don't think so.

[@Fumbles9001]

@Strang3rDanger Yeah, I know. I took the good selmer alto from my school, and had to get all the pads replaced >_>

[@obiwan88]

musically speaking I thought it'd made a lot of sense to put in some vibrato for the those long notes...

[@MaLaBrianna]

@lsdvine if thats your personal opinion.. then you can go on thinking that. as a saxophone player, we have to use vibrato. but i dont b/c it will mess up my clarinet playing giving me vibrato- which sounds bad. ever realize how at solofest they dont judge vibrato ?? also i play the alto clarinet a lot. it naturally has vibrato due to some unsteady pitched notes, so that could be what youre hearing.

[@lsdvine]

@buzzy918 clarinets are supposed to use vibrato, listen to any british clarinettists at thearly half of 20th century eg. simeon Belison, walter mourant, acker bilk. The non-use of vibrato is a modern-day practice and a good thing to do when learning but most other woodwind instruments use it so why shouldnt we?

[@short4cake]

great !!

[@flyboy8492]

im going to see if my band director will let me play one of our six.

[@boabogo]

so intense!

[@hazelman]

I can't believe that some ensembles have abandoned using the Alto Clarinet. But, composers don't write dedicated Alto Clarinet parts, the way they write dedicated Bass Clarinet Parts, leaving the Alto Clarinet to play the 2nd Alto Saxophone part. Same with the Contra Alto Clarinet. No dedicated part, leaving the Contra player to double up on the Bari Sax or Tuba part.

[@luizpereira7946]

Gostei, onde consigo mais informações sobre clarinete alto.

[@AnUnknownFruit]

It's circular breathing.

[@yokurt]

with the alto, you do need to puff on certain notes to coax the sound out.

[@StanleyJasonZappa]

hells jeah alto clarinet!

[@vacuumlover1]

@blkaznmartin mines a leblanc is has a goose neck style

[@tartan11463]

I think the band that he played most often selected number moutpiece and reeds is large numbers. I like my band. To sound more harmonious.

[@travistnt4109]

I’ve never seen a alto clarinet with a bass clarinet looking neck

[@TheGuitarist365]

yes

[@omgthatchickshot]

I play this instrument(:

[@blakeminett4136]

So my Alto clarinet won't play anything above a A It's a very old instrument, dose anyone have a suggestion?

[@LowReedExpert1]

I'd suggest getting a tech to ensure all the pads are sealing as well as the not being any cracks. After that, if the problem persists, then good ole fundamental practice for you!

[@tieshaarne5535]

OMG I thought it is was my AC that does that! However, mine can go up to a D. Did you go to check it out? If so, is it fixable!

[@QueenAzooga]

Everybody has there own way of playing. There was a clarinet player in all state band who only tongued with the back of her tongue. As long as it sounds good, I suppose. And this sounds good.

[@OriginalTrousers]

The accompanist is Marasy.

[@jamesw4638]

This video inspired me to become the alto clarinetist in our community band since we were missing one. I hope more will be done to revive an endangered species.

[@Tai013]

Today in Concert Band my teacher switched me from a B Clarinet to a Alto Clarinet, but i still miss playing the Bass Clarinet. lol

[@Mob-tq7gv]

I just asked my band teacher to switch from bass and now my friend who plays bass clarinet with me is mad that I’m switching to alto

[@waltz9533]

@@Mob-tq7gv im in the same situation. Im switching to alto next year and my bass friend is mad because hell be the only bass in our band.

[@AwKwArDblkaznwiteTUR]

ahhhhhh i just asked my band director today if i could play it in the band and he found a school one and is gonna send it to get fixed so that i can play it :]

[@BigTony-bf5jr]

How’d it go?

[@Makanalanimakamae]

@@BigTony-bf5jr uhhh I don’t think she’s answering that was 11 years ago lol

[@BigTony-bf5jr]

@@Makanalanimakamae I’ve done it before I’ll do it again!

[@Makanalanimakamae]

@@BigTony-bf5jr lmaooo

[@AlmostGoneMad]

if only i was just half amazing as that dude !

[@harperbyrne94]

Why alto clarinet when basset horn is

[@themosterstoster7587]

How could anyone have good poster with such a small chair

[@pianomancuber91]

@anthonyianryanshane Except that the clarinet has been around for a few hundred years, so technically the sax is the copy cat.

[@JHouse4]

If the alto embouchure is looser than the soprano's, then why is the bass not looser yet, since it is even lower? I don't see how the alto should be played any different from the rest of the family - if you have to use a saxophone embouchure then there's likely something up with the equipment. I personally have a horrid sax embouchure - I simply can't yet find the sweet spot between loose enough and too loose to control the entire range and yet I've never had this problem with the alto clarinet.

[@Aussie.rules69]

its because you neeed to tighten it as you get higher.

[@wotrabbitfish]

much nicer sound that standard clarinet, not all oily & squeaky & that not to mention the accompanist is cuuuuuuuuute

[@macintosh315]

where can i get the sheet music for this on alto clarinet?

[@loinorn]

アルトクラソロのアレンジなんてあるの？この演奏のために委嘱したの？

[@lsdvine]

@MaLaBrianna I think that Turkish clarinettists, Greek clarinettists, Albanian clarinettists, Bulgarian calrinetists, Klezmer clarinettists, Acker Bilk, Johnny dodds, Peewee Russel, Omer Simeon, Reginald Kell, Artie Shaw and Acker bilk would all disagree with you heavily... as i do. Once the clarinet was not even regarded as a solo instrument and look at it now.

[@dragonmoon1969]

That is a unique neck where can I buy or find one

[@lenar6381]

Do you have sheet music for this please?

[@mcmeekz]

@snk9045 you do

[@greenockcut]

It is a beautiful instrument b sometimes a little intractable. We have three in the choir along with three basses, contra-alto and contrabass. From my own experience alto clarinet outwails any other instrument in the blues.

[@dimsimlord]

@ernierap Alto clarinets don't use vibrato...?

[@nathanhol42001]

I want the sheet music for the piano part!

[@MimicoSound]

@chaosstrike1000 oh...since when do people make alto clarinets with swan necks?? :S

[@MaLaBrianna]

@lsdvine clarinets arent supposed to use vibrato....

[@danny55531]

Turkish Clarinet: Am I a joke to you?

[@nejihyuga665]

the piano part to this in the beggining souinds a bit depressing but still beautiful.

[@MaLaBrianna]

i think naturally alto clarinets have vibrato because the sound is so unsteady

[@JHouse4]

Sorry to be so opposed, I do understand that whatever works for an individual will always be depend very highly on the individual and as long as a wonderful tone is reached in the end nothing else really matters. It's just that what you say goes against how I logically see it and I'm just curious as to what led you to the view you have. P.S. hate character limit. grr.

[@rdraznik]

Very nice performance......

[@4HERNYAS]

Minuto 0.50...wow!

[@afglorty209]

やってみたいアルトクラ

[@antholuo]

what is vibrato?