Why I Love a Good Bass Clarinet Concerto
I've honestly lost track of how many hours I've spent hunting down the perfect bass clarinet concerto recording, but I'm pretty sure my neighbors are tired of hearing those rumbling low notes vibrating through the floorboards. There's just something about the bass clarinet that hits differently than almost any other instrument in the orchestra. It's got this weird, beautiful dual personality—it can be incredibly soulful and lyrical one second, and then sound like a literal honking chainsaw the next. For the longest time, it was just the "utility" player in the back of the woodwind section, but seeing it step into the spotlight as a solo instrument is one of my favorite things about modern classical music. ...