If you’re a clarinetist then, well, congratulations! You've chosen one of the the most versatile and beautiful instruments in the orchestra (or wind band, jazz band, chamber group—it certainly gets around). It is also an instrument with a boatload of great repertoire, from classical through to jazz and klezmer. At the pinnacle of this repertoire lies the concerto, solo works with orchestra designed to highlight the instrument’s best characteristics and the technical abilities of their players. The clarinet has some great ones to choose from—here are our best five.
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If you are looking for one of the most rousing pieces of all time, a good place to start is Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture (and we have versions for 30 instruments and ensembles to choose from). Written to celebrate the Russian victory over Napoleon in 1812, it ends in a satisfying blaze of brass, cannon fire and bells. Whilst its effect is undeniable the piece has, however, had its issues and controversies over the years—Tchaikovsky was famously dismissive of it, the first performance was not nearly so rousing as intended and its bombast has made it the subject of both criticism and parody.
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The beating heart of almost all orchestral music, the violin is also the quintessential solo instrument, with many composers down the years writing brilliant concertos for it. Whilst there are a great many to choose from, however, we wondered what the absolute cream of the crop might be. Here, then is our definite list, which links to both the full works and easy extracts from the pieces, allowing players not quite ready for the full concerto experience to enjoy these masterpieces.
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There are so many great choral works, including monumental masterpieces like Handel’s Messiah, Bach's St. John Passion and St. Matthew Passion and Beethoven's Missa Solemnis (to name only a handful). Unfortunately these works require instrumental resources and performing skills that put them beyond the range of many amateur choirs. Luckily, however, there are also many great easy choral works that are perfect for amateurs and professionals alike. These pieces can also be practised here on 8notes using our exclusive playback feature that allows singers to hear their individual choral lines. Here, in no particular order then, are our ten most beautiful easy choral pieces of all time!
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If you’re looking for the ultimate classical chill-out music, look no further than Massenet’s Meditation from Thaïs. In five glorious minutes the composer weaves a melodic spell that seems to transport listeners to a higher emotional plane. Small wonder, then, that is one of our most popular pieces here on 8notes (and we have more than 30 version of it to choose from! ). Despite its popularity however, the piece is also one of the least understood in the repertoire. Few people even know what ‘Thaïs’ is. The full story reveals a piece less saccharine than one might first have imagined....
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A warm summer’s day in London, 1717. King George I, accompanied by a number of lavishly dressed courtiers, has just boarded the royal barge on the Thames at Whitehall. The royal party makes its way serenely upriver, carried on the tide towards their destination at Chelsea. A flotilla of boats accompanies the royal barge, for this is no ordinary expedition—from one of the craft an orchestra of fifty musicians begins to play a new piece by one of the most celebrated composers in Europe...
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Invented by Belgian Adolphe Sax in the 1840s, the saxophone is a relative newcomer in the classical music world. The instruments have also experienced a good deal of prejudice over the years (check out this article here for more on this ). Whilst these factors meant many composers ignored their potential, some great figures did choose to write for these marvellous instruments. Here are the pieces every saxophonist should know!
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"The most important and impactful piece written for the trumpet in the 200 or so years since Hummel’s Concerto emerged from the Austro-Hungarian empire." So said trumpeter Alison Balsom recently as she tackled a new concerto by legendary colleague Winton Marsalis.
This set us thinking. What are the greatest trumpet concertos ever written? Here is our definite list...
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One of the best-known examples of an African-American spiritual, When the Saints Go Marching In is also a Christian Hymn, pop song, jazz standard and more. Performed in churches, jazz and pop concerts it has also found its way into advertising, the movies and even onto football terraces (not to mention nearly forty arrangements here on 8notes!) Here then is the story of one of the world’s best-known, best-loved and most-played melodies.
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One of the best-known works purportedly from the baroque period, Albinoni’s Adagio in G minor has been phenomenally popular since its ‘rediscovery’ at the end of World War Two. As well as appearing frequently as a soundtrack on the big and small screen, it has been adapted for many instrumental combinations, 40 of which can be enjoyed here on 8notes.
Whilst the title of this work would seem to make it’s authorship clear, its history is a controversial one, since the piece may, in fact, be the greatest hoax in musical history.
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