The Bass Clarinet in the Orchestra

Utah Symphony musician Lee Livengood talks about his studies and career playing the bass clarinet, discusses the role of the bass clarinet in the orchestra, and plays a solo.
Want to learn more about the instruments in the orchestra and the people who play them? Watch the entire series here: bit.ly/2FrlWTz
:: DISCOVER UTAH SYMPHONY | UTAH OPERA ::
Get tickets to a Utah Symphony | Utah Opera performance: bit.ly/36XOrDI
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Watch snippets of past Symphony performances: bit.ly/2GZdhrY
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Watch clips of past opera performances: bit.ly/2SBZyaC
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:: RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS ::
The instruments of the orchestra and what they sound like: bit.ly/2FrlWTz
Ask an opera singer: bit.ly/33ULMIO
Voice types in opera: bit.ly/33ULG3U
Connecting the symphony to classrooms: bit.ly/3lNsRWJ
Connecting the opera to classrooms: bit.ly/376R3iz

[@zebra3stripes]

When you own two bass clarinets, you must be liven' good.

[@jeffpolosmith6945]

or maybe he is a professional that needs a bass clarinet and a back up to make money

[@BassEVG]

Jeff, I know it’s been several months, but the comment was a play on the performer’s last name, “Livengood”.

[@cesteres]

See what you did there

[@oboelord4610]

i only own 2 regular trash clarinets

[@ghaleon128]

So back when Video Games Live played here in Utah, during one of the intermissions, I called out to Lee down on the stage and asked him to, "Give us a low C!" And he did. And it was wonderful. And my friends and I cheered. From this moment on, this fantastic musician has been labelled "Low C Lee" among my friends.

[@Meganithmaizel]

I miss playing my Bass Clarinet. I switched to Bass in 7th grade, and I loved it so much. I wish I could play in my college band, but I don't have time. :(

[@santiagoblaumann6557]

Megan Maize I

[@krane15]

When it something you love doing you make time. Think about it.

[@ethancampbell9096]

Once you graduate, get a cheaper model and join a community band or orchestra. Its definitely worth it if you used to love the instrument. And if you decide you dont love it anymore after a while of trying it, then selling the instrument shouldn't be too difficult to get basically all money back. Most bass clarinets retain their value very well, especially if you buy used

[@BP-dx4ip]

I love this setup. A professional low C bass with a golden Das Blashaus neck and a wood bell.

[@nervchemnitz]

Alto clarinet player here who just got a bass clarinet last weekend. So far I like it!

[@giganerd896]

Alto clarinetist, huh? I really want to start playing alto. I play all the others, but I haven't been able to find an alto anywhere!

[@talbotvanman]

originally a pro big band drummer I decided on reaching eighty years of age I couldnt be bothered humping drums around anymore ! I had played clarinet for my own amusement for many years so it was natural to continue playing and joined a rehearsal orchestra. I was so impressed with a piece of music I was given to play and having noticed it was written for bass clarinet I went on Ebay and bought one ! I havent looked back since and soon I hope to join a "classical" orchestra. What prompted me to post this is like Lee (although well short of his expertise) I also play bass guitar in a swing band !!

[@blackpearl1851]

Absolutely AMAZING!! 😍 I haven’t played in 28 years!! Cannot believe I’m old enough to even say that number!! But you’ve convinced me to get back on Bass Clarinet and my goal is to perform on stage within 2 years from today!

[@embott1]

I was playing flute in my high school band, and everything was new to me. During one rehearsal, I heard The Yellow Rose of Texas played by this amazing, deep, rich toned instrument: the bass clarinet. I was instantly in love. I played flute (3rd chair) for another year before I switched over to the BC. By far, my favorite times in band was spent on the BC. Turns out, the dexterity I learned from playing flute, paid off. I was First Chair All State in my senior year.

[@giganerd896]

WOW! I made Honors All State ILMEA my senior year as well!

[@redheron4321]

Yes! Was wondering if he would play that solo in Shostakovich's 7th symphony. Glad he did. Such a beautiful tone and melody. Cool video.

[@paulhoeffer8697]

Thanks for a great explanation and demonstration. My daughter is in her 3rd year of clarinet and I've never seen her so excited about discovering a new instrument. She was thinking of doubling up on either sax or bassoon, but one listen to this video and she is hooked on the bass clarinet. I appreciate Thierry going over the entire range and also the incredible volume control of this instrument. I hope more kids watch this video to enjoy the passion you share, and parents to watch it to realize that there is a world more of possibility to the clarinet than just what their kids practice on.

[@connorross6921]

About the range expect two maybe three if she has some natural talent as bass clarinets don’t like going as apposed to a tenor sax

[@bobjacobson858]

Actually, Lee Livengood presented in this video. Thierry is the director of the orchestra.

[@internallyscreaming89]

This dude is actually living my dream.

[@citrus_fire2078]

I have been playing Bb bass clarinet for two years and love it.

[@robbiefrantz8170]

What an incredibly soulful instrument. Love it.

[@zathrasnotzathras9435]

I love playing the bass clarinet. In my senior year in high school they had me play bass clarinet in their jazz band. We put a microphone in the bell and ran it to an amplifier. We used reverb and delay and all sorts of different effects with it. And I was doing that flutter tongue didn’t know that that’s what it was called.

[@zlwigle6423]

Am a bass clarinet player AND I LOVE IT

[@brianbillings6815]

Great tone, renowned mouthpiece maker/resurfacer. Nice video.

[@krane15]

That was wonderfully refreshing. Many musicians are great at playing but not very good at explain their craft. Especially to the lay person. On your next video, perhaps you can speak a bit more about the structure of the instrument, how its played (positions etc.), the different types of bass clarinet and its place within the clarinet hierarchy.

[@harrystevens3885]

I remember as a kid watching the film Jason and the Argonauts and wondering what instrument made those beautiful sounds many,many years later I found out it was the bass clarinet....Amazing sound.

[@msssyMS]

Fascinating! I'm in my late twenties and have only been playing Clarinet for a few years (played F horn for most of my life but I actually don't like it). I fell in love with clarinet immediately after playing the first open G on the B-flat. I've always admired the bass clarinet. I'm really wondering if it's possible at all to build up the skills to be a professional player in a matter of a few years by the time I'm in my mid-thirties. I have huge goals of playing with Symphonic bands and Symphony orchestras.

[@dr.chrisketo7193]

Wunderbar! Danke!

[@spearminttss]

When he was playing “quiet” it was just blowing air into it, not really making a noise... right?

[@distinguishingremark]

Peanut Butter it was definitely making a pitch

[@gerardgeuss1887]

It might be too low for phone speakers, try headphones and you'll be able to hear it 👍

[@musokid89]

he was playing the solo excerpt from pines of rome, it's low, slow and soft. if you turn your speakers up you'll hear it very softly 3:56

[@hudsoncampos5976]

Bravíssimo!!!

[@zlwigle6423]

I love this video because am a bass clarinet

[@fatcontroller12]

I play an Eb Contraalto clarinet. I love low clarinet voices.

[@musicalguy9]

My best friend has 2 clarinet and 1 bass clarinet his father's best friend was a professional clarinetist he was the soloist clarinet player for the orchestra me and my friends went to In 2011

[@paramedicfirefighteryeah1578]

I am in 5th grade and starting bagpipes and bass clarinet tomorrow

[@idk-jg3jq]

that's really cool, I hope you enjoy bass clarinet

[@JAMes-vc6gd]

I started in 4th grade too!

[@Potter5416]

One of my old friends from high school and middle school played the bass clarinet!

[@RickMartinYouTube]

maybe my next life I'll come back as a musician

[@vetlerradio]

Amazing presentation! I have a question: Is the bass clarinet an instrument that emits a lot of natural harmonics? Because I hear the low voice and also some higher notes when he plays.

[@cesteres]

Every second harmonic. That's why it's so easy to pick them out.

[@lamaspacos]

Third (mainly)

[@milkvr5572]

whats the piece he plays at the beginning?

[@rutcimmusic]

Stravinsky rite of spring i think

[@DarkHunterjohn8]

Bruvs clarinet story is similar to mine but i started bass clarinet in 8th grade

[@dayla9918]

when you started on bass clarinet and plan on never switching

[@jeremycardenas5965]

What bass clarinet is that?

[@MiraDaWulf]

B-flat bass clarinet

[@fsdhuy]

Mira! i think he wants it a little clearer, i have no idea, obviously low c capable

[@grima5788]

It is a professional Buffet Low-C model, exactly which one, I can not say.

[@pablodevadderclarinete]

It's a Prestige model with aftermarket neck and bell

[@grima5788]

Backun bell, and Blashaus (I believe that's how it's spelled)neck if I'm correct. At least that's where you can get similar products

[@casterknot5094]

Is it just me who likes his utah accent?

[@AlexCJava]

It's a duck-sound instrument and it's beautiful hear!

[@erick3903]

lucky guy

[@jezebelinadancer]

Froggy went a'courting

[@cesteres]

Haha dry reed. Nice playing though

[@nickschneider9985]

A bass clarinet is a low-pitch clarinet.

[@Clarinet69]

3:32 everything about that was surprisingly bad from thr super high pitched yet soft squeak right before the first note came out right to the last altissimo note that was voiced terribly.... wow.

[@Aduysvmncmkouyf]

It’s not gonna sound good