Christmas Music

Clarinet Ensembles

Contra Alto Clarinet Ensembles

My 3rd attempt at playing sevenstars0828's cover of Kurousa-P's famous VOCALOID song, "Senbonzakura (千本桜)."

Come January 2015, I got to rent the LeBlanc paperclip again! This time, I used a synthetic reed, which greatly improved the tone quality. I also found a better way to record it, hence the better quality of audio. 

Then in Spring 2015, I rerecorded the alto clarinet part on a whim. I don't know why I did so. Other than that, nothing changed.

This is the last take that uses all the specified instruments. The rest of the untouched tracks in the final version had to be rerecorded, and since I did not have access to an Eb clarinet or a bass clarinet anymore, I had to use substitutes.

• Eb alto clarinet (Noblet, JD Hite mouthpiece, an unknown inverted Vandoren ligature, Vandoren Java alto saxophone reeds #3)

• Bb contrabass clarinet (LeBlanc paperclip, stock mouthpiece, stock ligature, Legere synthetic reed #2.5)

Senbonzakura (千本桜) [3rd Attempt]

My 2nd attempt has only one difference from the 1st one: the contrabass clarinet. I had access to a paperclip contra in November - December 2014. Before I had to return it for 2 weeks, I decided to rerecord that awful "contrabass" take from the 1st attempt on a whim. Aside from that, nothing changed in this version. 

(I immediately fell in love with the contra's range to low C, so forgive the 8vb's)

In a way, you could say that this is the "true 1st take," since it I finally played all the parts on the correct instruments.

• Bb contrabass clarinet (LeBlanc paperclip, stock mouthpiece, stock ligature, RICO reed #2)

Senbonzakura (千本桜) [2nd Version]

This is my attempt at sevenstars0828’s arrangement of Kurousa-P’s famous song "Senbonzakura (千本桜)." I overdubbed myself playing each part (except for the contrabass part, see explanation below)

Original video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-AWxNG7ueY&list=TLGKutG7hWB4MAqH7r7FlLoYmrGcuhJ_FW

They were generous enough to provide links to download the sheet music in the video description. The arrangement is for a clarinet sextet: 1 E-flat, 2 B-flats, 1 alto, 1 bass, and 1 contrabass.

    Anyway, I will say it now. This was bad. Very BAD. My attempt at recording myself playing all parts merits no comparison at all to their video. First off, this was done while I had more important school stuff filling up my schedule; I only got to practice and record when I had free time. Secondly, this was all the effort of one guy. I didn’t have anyone else help me when I played this arrangement, so obviously it is very sloppy. Thirdly, the only recording equipment I used was my home computer and GarageBand.
    I did have access to decent school instruments to cover all the parts save for one. That is not a contrabass clarinet you hear. It is me playing the part on bass clarinet and taking the audio down an octave. The effect is still unsatisfactory.

     Even then, I am still proud of this little side project of mine (I am satisfied with the tone I have on the Eefer). I just couldn’t resist trying it. And I know that overdubbing myself is a little hobby that I will continue to do.

I hope I can get together an ensemble one day to play this arrangement right!

Set-up:
• E-flat Sopranino* Clarinet (Buffet E11, Vandoren B45 mouthpiece, stock ligature, Rico Royal #5 reeds)

• B-flat Soprano Clarinet for both clarinets 1 and 2 (Buffet R13, Vandoren 5RV Lyre mouthpiece, Bonade Inverted ligature, Mitchell Lurie Premium #5 reeds for clarinet 1, Vandoren V12 #4 reeds for clarinet 2)

• E-flat Alto Clarinet (Selmer Bundy, Yamaha 4C mouthpiece, stock ligature, Rico Royal #3 reeds)

• B-flat Bass Clarinet for both bass and contrabass clarinets (Buffet Student Model with a hole in the bell to allow low D, stock mouthpiece, stock ligature, Rico Grand Concert Select #3.5 reeds)

Senbonzakura (千本桜) [1st Version]

This is a clarinet quartet rendition of the "Dance of the Reed Flutes" (from The Nutcracker) on a clarinet quartet (3 Bb's, 1 contra alto). 

I used Fred Bayerf's arrangement for sax quartet as a basis (see: http://www.bayerf.de/sax/home_en.html). 

Many sections leave much to be desired, and this is of course still a work-in-progress. 

Dance of the Reed Flutes (1st Attempt)

From Hymns of the Christian Life (no. 58)

Set up:

• Eb alto clarinet (Noblet, JD Hite mouthpiece, an unknown inverted Vandoren ligature, Vandoren Java #3 alto saxophone reeds)

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks (Alto Clarinet Quartet)

Adapted from: http://imslp.org/wiki/In_the_Bleak_Midwinter_(Holst%2C_Gustav)

Set up:
• Eb contra alto clarinet (Selmer Bundy, Clarke W Fobes Nova mouthpiece, Rovner Dark ligature, Legere #3 synthetic reed)

In the Bleak Midwinter (Contra Alto Clarinet Quartet)

From Hymns of the Christian Life (no. 212)

This is actually a reupload of a recording I made way back in 2014, just when I was starting to explore the idea of an alto clarinet quartet.

The choice of hymn was inspired by this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59zPtejrbNY

Set up:
• Eb alto clarinet (Noblet, JD Hite mouthpiece, unknown inverted Vandoren ligature, RICO Royal #3 alto clarinet reeds)

alec's arrangements

Abide With Me (Alto Clarinet Quartet)

An old overdub project of mine made back in early 2015, when the Yee meme was already old. I decided to upload this now for completion's sake.

Yee (Dinosaur Adventure Theme Song)

A little bit of an early Christmas! Here's Joy to the World for alto clarinet quartet plus a contra alto on the bass part for good measure.

From Hymns of the Christian Life (no. 60).

Set up:

• Eb alto clarinet (Noblet, JD Hite mouthpiece, an unknown inverted Vandoren ligature, Vandoren Java #3 alto saxophone reeds)

• Eb contra alto clarinet (Selmer Bundy, Clarke W Fobes Nova mouthpiece, Rovner Dark ligature, Legere #3 synthetic reed)

Joy to the World

I tried to play some excerpts from Cornelius Boots' composition "Vector" alla Edmund Welles' style on 4 contra alto clarinets, as a proof of concept of translating the idea of Edmund Welles to a contra alto clarinet quartet.

I think it can be done, but I'm clearly not skilled enough for the task…

Set-up:
• E♭ contra alto clarinet (Selmer Bundy, Clarke W Fobes Nova mouthpiece, Rovner Dark ligature, La Voz medium baritone saxophone reeds)

Excerpts from "Vector" (Contra Alto Clarinet Quartet)

A silly little fanfare I wrote, overdubbed on 10 contra alto clarinets.

Set-up:
• E♭ contra alto clarinet (Selmer Bundy, Clarke W Fobes Nova mouthpiece, Rovner Dark ligature, Legere synthetic reed #3)

Contra Alto Fanfare

This is a "proof of concept" for a clarinet quintet arrangement of Henry Mancini's "The Greatest Gift" from The Trail of the Pink Panther. The arrangement was transcribed from a piano part, and was originally for 3 B♭'s, 1 alto, and 1 contra alto, but here I played all parts on contra alto. 

It's rough and needs some polishing, but I was impressed enough with the result to post it here.

Set-up:
• E♭ contra alto clarinet (Selmer Bundy, Clarke W. Fobes Nova contrabass clarinet mouthpiece, Rovner Dark contrabass clarinet ligature, Legere Synthetic contrabass clarinet reeds #3)

The Greatest Gift (Contra alto Clarinet Quintet)

From Hymns of the Christian Life (no. 58)

Played on SATB recorder and 8va recorder quartet (alto, soprano, sopranino, garklein).

Set-up (recorders):
• Garklein recorder: Aulos 501S Symphony
• Sopranino recorder: Aulos A570B
• Soprano recorder: Yamaha YRS-23Y
• Alto recorder: Triébert TRIA-3B
• Tenor recorder: Yamaha YRT-304B II
• Bass recorder: Yamaha YRB-302B II

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks (Double Recorder Quartet)

Played on 12 contra alto clarinets.

Set up:
• E♭ contra alto clarinet (Selmer Bundy, Clarke W. Fobes Nova contrabass clarinet mouthpiece, Rovner Dark contrabass clarinet ligature, Legere Synthetic contrabass clarinet reeds #3)

In the Bleak Midwinter (Contra Alto Clarinet Quartet)

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