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

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