The Bass Clarinet: A personal history

Harry Sparnaay, the bass clarinettist who has been often featured as prominent soloist, launches the most extended and rigurous study on bass clarinet. It deals with thorough technical aspects and emphasizes the resources of present music such as multiphonics, microtones and diverse efects. Everything is illustrated with fingering charts and there are more than 100 audio examples.
You will know about Harry's personal life and a lot there is to know about the history of the bass clarinet, its repertoire, studies and resources. Furthermore, the author biography gathers information about his dedication teaching the instrument during his whole life and presenting it in concert halls around the world as a soloists, member of chamber groups and ensembles.

It is a book to use as a reference, essential for clarinettists, clarinet teachers, composers and musicologists, written by the most important authority on the bass clarinet.

CONTENIDO:

Table of contents
Acknowledgements
A personal introduction
From the very beginning until now
Concise history of the bass clarinet
Notation
Range
Playing position, tone quality and stage manners
Special techniques / effects:
- Slap tongue
- Trills, tremolos and bisbigliando
- Flutter tongue
- Double staccato
- Playing with air
- Vibrato and smorzato
- Teeth on the reed
- Circular breathing
- Glissandi
- Using the voice
- Key sound
- Playing with tape and other media
- Quarter tones
- Multiphonics
- Remaining effects
- Grace notes
- Reeds
Programming
Repertoire
Study repertoire
Publisher, music examples and Music Information Centres
Bass clarinettists, composers and their pieces, web sites and (study) literature
Anecdotes
Biography
Epilogue
Where to find the composers