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Famous Clarinetists of the World — From Classical to Jazz

With its warm timbre and wide range, the clarinet is a highly popular instrument across many genres, including concert band, classical, and jazz.

Another hallmark of the clarinet is its versatility: it adapts to a variety of performance settings, from ensembles to solo playing.

Many people may have first learned of the instrument through the well-known children’s song “I Broke My Clarinet.”

In this article, we’ve gathered notable clarinetists from around the world who are active in classical and jazz.

Read on, and the clarinet might start to feel even more familiar to you.

Playlist

Famous Clarinetists of the World — From Classical to Jazz
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastClarinet Concerto No. 1 in F minor, Op. 73 / Carl Maria von WeberSabine Meyer
Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in F minor, Op. 73 / Carl Maria von WeberSabine Meyerplay_arrow
Sabine Meyer is active as a clarinetist and is internationally renowned.
2eastClarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622, Movement I / Wolfgang Amadeus MozartKarl Leister
Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622, Movement I / Wolfgang Amadeus MozartKarl Leisterplay_arrow
Karl Leister, world-renowned clarinetist and music educator
3eastTwo Concert Pieces No. 1, Op. 113 / Felix MendelssohnAndreas Ottensamer
Two Concert Pieces No. 1, Op. 113 / Felix MendelssohnAndreas Ottensamerplay_arrow
Andreas, a talented clarinetist
4eastRhapsody in Blue / George GershwinAlessandro Carbonare
Rhapsody in Blue / George GershwinAlessandro Carbonareplay_arrow
The acclaimed Italian clarinetist Carbonare
5eastClarinet Sonata FP 184, 3rd movement / Francis Jean Marcel PoulencPaul Meyer
Clarinet Sonata FP 184, 3rd movement / Francis Jean Marcel PoulencPaul Meyerplay_arrow
Paul Meyer is a world-renowned clarinetist and conductor born in France.
6eastSing Sing Sing/Louis PrimaBenny Goodman
Sing Sing Sing/Louis PrimaBenny Goodmanplay_arrow
The accomplishments of clarinetist Benny Goodman
7eastRapsodie No. 1 / Claude DebussyIstván Kohán
Rapsodie No. 1 / Claude DebussyIstván Kohánplay_arrow
Achievements of a clarinetist from Hungary
8eastFlowers Will Bloom / Yoko KannoFujii Kazuo
Flowers Will Bloom / Yoko KannoFujii Kazuoplay_arrow
Kazuo Fujii Clarinetist’s Activities and Family Music Activities
9eastClarinet Concerto No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 74 / Carl Maria von WeberDaniel Ottensamer
Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 74 / Carl Maria von WeberDaniel Ottensamerplay_arrow
Daniel Ottensamer is the principal clarinetist of the Vienna Philharmonic.
10eastClarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622 / Wolfgang Amadeus MozartPatrick Messina
Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622 / Wolfgang Amadeus MozartPatrick Messinaplay_arrow
Patrick Messina, a leading French clarinetist
11eastBurgundy Street Blues/George LewisGeorge Lewis
Burgundy Street Blues/George LewisGeorge Lewisplay_arrow
George Lewis, self-taught on the clarinet, had a profound influence
12eastSonata for clarinet soloSebastian Manz
Sonata for clarinet soloSebastian Manzplay_arrow
From a family of musicians. A promising performer and competition winner.
13eastAir on the G String / Johann Sebastian BachRichard Stoltzman
Air on the G String / Johann Sebastian BachRichard Stoltzmanplay_arrow
Richard Stoltzman Clarinetist
14eastSomeday Sweetheart/John and Reb SpikesWoody Herman
Someday Sweetheart/John and Reb SpikesWoody Hermanplay_arrow
Woody Herman’s life and innovations in band management
15eastPutty Boy Strut/Flying LotusAnat Cohen
Putty Boy Strut/Flying LotusAnat Cohenplay_arrow
Anat Cohen: Clarinet Shines Across Diverse Music
16eastClarinet Concerto, Op. 57 / Carl NielsenCharles Neidich
Clarinet Concerto, Op. 57 / Carl NielsenCharles Neidichplay_arrow
Achievements and contributions of clarinetists
17eastThe Path of Suzukake / Yukihiko Haidasuzuki shōji
The Path of Suzukake / Yukihiko Haidasuzuki shōjiplay_arrow
Shoji Suzuki is a clarinetist from a musical family.
18eastClarinet Sonata, FP 184 / Francis PoulencMartin Fröst
Clarinet Sonata, FP 184 / Francis PoulencMartin Fröstplay_arrow
An impressive piece by a Swedish performer
19eastClarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622, Movement III / Wolfgang Amadeus MozartHashimoto Anna
Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622, Movement III / Wolfgang Amadeus MozartHashimoto Annaplay_arrow
Clarinetist Anna Hashimoto’s achievements and activities in London
20eastSolfeggietto / Carl Philipp Emanuel BachEddie Daniels
Solfeggietto / Carl Philipp Emanuel BachEddie Danielsplay_arrow
Eddie Daniels is active in both jazz and classical music
21eastTheme and Variations / Jean FrançaixJoë Christophe
Theme and Variations / Jean FrançaixJoë Christopheplay_arrow
A French clarinetist showcases their talent
22eastHurry, Benjamin!Masuda Hideo
Hurry, Benjamin!Masuda Hideoplay_arrow
Jazz clarinetist provides instruction
23eastClarinet Concerto No. 1 in A major, MWV 6 / Johann Melchior MolterDariusz Elbe
Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in A major, MWV 6 / Johann Melchior MolterDariusz Elbeplay_arrow
Molter was a Baroque and Classical composer, noted for the beauty of the E-flat clarinet.
24eastClarinet Sonata No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 120 No. 2 / Johannes BrahmsErnst Ottensamer
Clarinet Sonata No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 120 No. 2 / Johannes BrahmsErnst Ottensamerplay_arrow
Brahms Resumes Composing after Hearing Joachim Mühlfeld’s Performance
25eastShepherd on the Rock D.965 / Franz SchubertPeter Schmidl
Shepherd on the Rock D.965 / Franz SchubertPeter Schmidlplay_arrow
The third-generation principal clarinetist of the Vienna Philharmonic
26eastRhapsody in Blue / George GershwinRobert oberaigner
Rhapsody in Blue / George GershwinRobert oberaignerplay_arrow
The Achievements and Allure of Clarinetist Oberaigner
27eastClarinet Sonata No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 120 No. 2 / Johannes BrahmsWenzel Fuchs
Clarinet Sonata No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 120 No. 2 / Johannes BrahmsWenzel Fuchsplay_arrow
Fuchs, the clarinetist from Austria
28eastClarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622, II. Adagio / Wolfgang Amadeus MozartJulian Bliss
Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622, II. Adagio / Wolfgang Amadeus MozartJulian Blissplay_arrow
A young world-renowned clarinetist from the United Kingdom
29eastClarinet Quintet in A major, K. 581 / Wolfgang Amadeus MozartMichel Arrignon
Clarinet Quintet in A major, K. 581 / Wolfgang Amadeus MozartMichel Arrignonplay_arrow
Introduction to a Clarinet Quintet
30eastClarinet Sonata No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 120 No. 2, II. Movement / Johannes BrahmsAlfred Prinz
Clarinet Sonata No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 120 No. 2, II. Movement / Johannes BrahmsAlfred Prinzplay_arrow
Clarinetist’s performance of Brahms
31east32 Etudes No. 1 / Cyrille RoseIsobe Shuhei
32 Etudes No. 1 / Cyrille RoseIsobe Shuheiplay_arrow
A classic collection of clarinet etudes
32eastClarinet Quintet in B-flat major, Op. 34, Movement IV / Carl Maria von WeberRichie Hawley
Clarinet Quintet in B-flat major, Op. 34, Movement IV / Carl Maria von WeberRichie Hawleyplay_arrow
A brilliant Rondo movement for clarinet quintet
33eastClarinet Concertino in E-flat major, Op. 26 / Carl Maria von WeberYoshida Makoto
Clarinet Concertino in E-flat major, Op. 26 / Carl Maria von WeberYoshida Makotoplay_arrow
A short piece by Weber featuring the clarinet
34eastFrenesi/Alberto DomínguezArtie Shaw
Frenesi/Alberto DomínguezArtie Shawplay_arrow
Artie Shaw is a jazz clarinetist.
35eastClarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622, Movement I / Wolfgang Amadeus MozartJohn Hixso
Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622, Movement I / Wolfgang Amadeus MozartJohn Hixsoplay_arrow
Clarinetist John Hixson
36eastDisco Kid / Osamu ShojiTaniguchi Eiji
Disco Kid / Osamu ShojiTaniguchi Eijiplay_arrow
A clarinetist active in jazz and pop
37eastFantasy Pieces, Op. 73 / Robert SchumannGervase Alan de Peyer
Fantasy Pieces, Op. 73 / Robert SchumannGervase Alan de Peyerplay_arrow
A dazzling performance by a London-born clarinetist
38eastRapsodie No. 1 / Claude DebussyJacques Lancelot
Rapsodie No. 1 / Claude DebussyJacques Lancelotplay_arrow
The richly colored acoustics and resonant beauty of a French performer
39eastSweet LorraineJimmie Noone
Sweet LorraineJimmie Nooneplay_arrow
Jazz standards performed by Jimmy Noone
40eastI vespri siciliani / Giuseppe VerdiSimone Nicoletta
I vespri siciliani / Giuseppe VerdiSimone Nicoletta
An opera on the subject of the Sicilian Vespers incident
41eastMemories of You/Eubie BlakeKitamura Eiji
Memories of You/Eubie BlakeKitamura Eijiplay_arrow
Eiji Kitamura’s Life in Jazz Clarinet
42eastMusette of Melancholy / SantanaAkasaka Tatsuzō
Musette of Melancholy / SantanaAkasaka Tatsuzōplay_arrow
Tatsuzo Akasaka is a clarinetist active on the international stage.
43eastClarinet Concerto / Aaron CoplandHarold Wright
Clarinet Concerto / Aaron CoplandHarold Wrightplay_arrow
A piece requested by Benny Goodman
44eastRapsodie No. 1 / Claude DebussyFlorent Héau
Rapsodie No. 1 / Claude DebussyFlorent Héauplay_arrow
Famous pieces by French clarinetists
45eastSymphony No. 7 “Unfinished” / Franz SchubertAlois Brandhofer
Symphony No. 7 “Unfinished” / Franz SchubertAlois Brandhoferplay_arrow
Biography and Characteristics of a Clarinetist
46eastNocturne No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 9 No. 2 / Frédéric ChopinMarten Altrov
Nocturne No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 9 No. 2 / Frédéric ChopinMarten Altrovplay_arrow
Arrange Chopin's Nocturnes for clarinet
47eastRhapsody in Blue / George GershwinBenjamin Christ
Rhapsody in Blue / George GershwinBenjamin Christplay_arrow
Composed by Gershwin, famous for its glissando
48eastClarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622, Movement I / Wolfgang Amadeus MozartAndrew Marriner
Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622, Movement I / Wolfgang Amadeus MozartAndrew Marrinerplay_arrow
A clarinetist’s concerto performance
49eastYesterdays/Jerome KernBuddy DeFranco
Yesterdays/Jerome KernBuddy DeFrancoplay_arrow
Buddy DeFranco played bebop on the clarinet.
50eastClarinet Concerto / Jean FrançaixShirley Brill
Clarinet Concerto / Jean FrançaixShirley Brillplay_arrow
A highly challenging virtuoso piece performed by a clarinetist
51eastPetite fleur/Sidney BechetSidney Bechet
Petite fleur/Sidney BechetSidney Bechetplay_arrow
American clarinetist, famous jazz soloist