If you play the clarinet or are a fan of the instrument, your opinion of the most famous clarinetists will depend on the style of music you favor. Invention of the clarinet is generally attributed to German instrument maker Johann Christoph Denner at the beginning of the eighteenth century. Its name comes from the word “clarino” and means “small trumpet.” An interesting historical note is that clarinet players often influenced composers directly. The musician needed new and popular pieces to play, and the composer benefited from finding out what a player could do with the instrument. One of the most famous of these relationships was between Mozart and Anton Stadler.
Famous Classical Clarinetists
The clarinet is an integral part of any symphony orchestra and the list of notable clarinetists is lengthy. Among twentieth century musicians, three of the most-mentioned are Martin Frost, Sabine Meyer, and Richard Stoltzman.
- Martin Frost is a Swedish clarinetist and conductor known for pushing musical boundaries and his unmatched virtuosity. He plays Buffet Crampon clarinets, including Tosca, Prestige, and Festival models.
- Sabine Meyer is a German clarinet player who has performed with hundreds of orchestras around the world and who has a special interest in chamber music. She favors custom made clarinets from German manufacturers Wurlitzer and Schwenk & Seggelke.
- Richard Stoltzman is one of the most well-known American clarinetists. His music includes classical, chamber, and jazz. He plays the Buffet Crampon R-13 Clarinet.
Famous Jazz and Swing Clarinetists
Musical styles were continually evolving and a new genre known as Dixieland jazz (sometimes called traditional jazz) was born in New Orleans. Dixieland can be recognized by its “front line” of trumpet, clarinet, and trombone backed by a rhythm section made up of various instruments. Typically the trumpet introduces a melodic theme and all of the other players improvise around it.
Dixieland’s popularity was fairly short-lived as big band and swing music gained traction with both players and audiences. However, there was resurgence of interest in Dixieland as the big band sound waned in the late 1940’s.
- Pete Fountain played traditional Dixieland jazz on his clarinet with a characteristic swinging and full sound which made him an icon of that musical style. He was largely responsible for the renewed interest in Dixieland jazz. Fountain favored large bore clarinets because of their warm sound. Recognizing his talent and popularity, the LeBlanc Company (later purchased by Conn-Selmer) custom made a clarinet for Fountain. The Selmer Paris Recital Model is an excellent professional clarinet that produces a warmer, darker tone.
- Benny Goodman, known as the King of Swing, is one of the most well-known clarinetists of all time. In addition to his brilliant work on the clarinet, Goodman became a famous bandleader, credited with bringing jazz to mainstream audiences. Goodman is also remembered for helping racial integration in America. In the early 1930s, black and white musicians could not play together in most clubs and concerts. He hired numerous black musicians and made a stand for integration onstage nine years before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball. He played Selmer Balanced Tone and Selmer Centered Tone clarinets and a custom made horn from Buffet Crampon later in his career.
- Eric Dolphy is always listed as one of the best bass clarinetists. He was the first major jazz soloist on the instrument and established much of the vocabulary and technique used by later performers. His style was controversial, loved by some and panned by others. He was known to play a Selmer Low C Bass Clarinet.