This instrument is amazing! I play legend of Zelda links awakening and the lower notes sound a lot like Dampe’s shack theme! (Great song you should listen to it) I wonder if dampe’s shack song is played with a contra bass.
Man, if my experience with contrabasses is anything to go by, you are insanely lucky to find one that is in good working order, let alone one that cheap! Really nice to hear it used melodically here, I'm impressed by how expressive you make it sound!
Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU. I played contrabass clarinet from 2004-2006 during my last two years of high school and I loved it dearly. You did the instrument such a service with this piece, as you played I remembered how the vibrations of the notes felt & it moved me to tears. You feel the notes more than you hear them, and it takes an amazing amount of lung capacity to play. You feel like you're pouring everything you have into it, and every note reverberates through your entire body. It's like you're one entity, I've never experienced anything like it
@@ThomasJLarsen Yes, bass clarinet gang! I play it too, and though I only play that and the Bb, it's my favourite by a mile. Truly a wonderful instrument
I play all of the clarinets that my school owns (sopranino, soprano, alto, bass, contrabass) and of them, my favorite is by far the contra. it's actually my main instrument :D I'm so happy to see the representation and meet other contrabassists. it's the greatest instrument ever, by leaps and bounds
10:16 I have only played the oboe and then had to transfer to the bass clarinet and that was pretty difficult for me just being a fairly young thin girl. Just playing the bass clarinet the notes were beautiful to me and and kind of move me as I played. I think your description described with beauty. Being played you could see that the effort just to get the air through them that the instrument, was gorgeous. When you first said the contrabass all I could think of was do you realize how much are and effort and energy this was going to take. However the beauty of the music was gorgeous at it really made me envious to convey such beauty.
i am 4”11-5”0 and i dragged this case around behind me everytime we had a performance at another facility besides my hs. i miss contrabass but i do not miss my hands being left indented and red from carrying it in 1 hand and a stand in the other. super thankful for all my friends and band mates for helping me carry everything. it took me an unnecessary amount of time to set up bc of all the things i had to carry around. instrument, stand, chair (a stool we kinda just stole from the science lab). anyways, can y’all tell how attached i still am to her and how i still haven’t been able to move on despite graduating a year ago ?
My school doesn’t have contra bass clarinets, I’ve never actually seen one in person but I really want to try playing one someday. I play bass clarinet and I am gonna get a bass clarinet before I graduate high school! I’d feel weird not having one. I just got a tenor sax too so I might end up wanting to save up for a sax too but my bass clarinet comes first. I just have to remember to put money aside in my savings for both post secondary and my instruments. I want to learn as many instruments as possible currently can play bass clarinet, Bb clarinet, tenor saxophone, and ukulele!
I played clarinet. I'm 5 feet tall. When I started at age 9, I was barely able to manage using all the keys. I miss playing in the h.s. band. I graduated in 1968.
@@onemercilessming1342 I feel ya. I decades after graduation I joined a community band & it reminded me a lot of the high school band, but set it aside when my daughter became school age. She's a college grad now so maybe it's time to go back.
Takes me back to highschool when my teacher for fun got a contrabass to use and let me use it in concert band. The way it makes your head to goop was an amazing feeling
I use to play contrabass clarinet and enjoyed it thoroughly. This is the first time I heard it from the front end. It is a beautiful instrument. I definitely enjoyed the arrangement.
As a person that actually plays the contrabass, I am amazed at how well your tone quality is. Considering it's not an easy instrument to play good job.
The low-end fills the room and makes a group have a lot of depth. The middle register is a rich sound, and has a lot of power that we do not realize until it's playing in an ensemble.
I enjoyed listening to "Dimensions" so much - what a beautiful piece it is and you play all the instruments on it so well. It's the first time I've heard a Comtrabass clarinet and I was awed at how well it tied all the other instruments together in the piece. Thank you for this treat Luke, it was lovely listening as probably the last thing before I go to bed tonight.
Dude plays the guitar, harp and Contrabass Clarinet while looking like a body builder. If I have a son in the future that's how I would like him to be, artistic, sensitive and able to kick the shit out of people if necessary, well done my dude, well done!
I played bass clarinet and then contrabass clarinet in college… I absolutely loved it… But about 30 years ago I gave winds up for brass and I now play euphonium which to me is about the same as the contrabass as far as being fun to play… What a great musician you are violin cello Harp etc
Yes a fellow euphonium I'm relatively new at three months highschool band but its such a beautiful internment plus not only can I shock people with the depth but I can shock everyone I know who's said "oh the euphonium can't go high" high b suckers it's funny
Fellow euphonium players! I really want to learn and play the contrabass flute, it’s so expensive though! Also I’m surprised high Bb shocks them, euphoniums can go really high with enough practice!
Very cool. I was thinking while you were playing, "Man, that's got to take some serious air!" Then you confirmed it. There is a point in contrabass where the low notes just get too poppy to really be pleasant to listen to, but you're right that the middle register is very pleasant.
I used to play a bass clarinet and an e flat alto clarinet when I was a lot younger and the feeling through my body when playing the bass was truly wonderful so I can only imagine how good that feels an octave lower.
Wow. The clarion register literally made me tear up when I first heard it. 😂 It's hard to describe, but like a really, really dense cello sound that almost acts like a cage to the little clarinet that still sits and lingers on the overtones. So freaking beautiful. I love it. ps. I hope your lungs are ok xD
This is extraordinary. Real quality musicianship and creativity. I also appreciate that you made something melodic like this. It really is a wasteland out there. Thank you.
That's some genuinely lovely music. I wasn't sure how the contabass clarinet would sound, but it is really solid. Sounds really amazing with the harp. Thank you.
This is absolutely beautiful. I first watched this some time ago and loved it. I've been a jazz bass clarinetist for years. But you helped to inspire me to get my own contra-alto clarinet, and I absolutely love it! Yayyy to all the large clarinets!
I've played the trumpet for years. Coming from a fellow musician this was very pleasant and enjoyable to listen to. Congrats on able to get one for a decent price. Well done. Thank you for sharing this with us.
It's been a long time since I've been this impressed by musical talent on RUclips. Please don't stop playing and recording music. Never really heard a contrabass clarinet like this, and I have to say I like it.
There's lots of talented musicians on youtube :) - While there are indeed a lot of folks just starting out (which is fine) or hunting more for clicks/likes and viral meme type instrument videos, there are indeed genuinely talented musicians. Look up Nehre Sol (Piano), Adam Neely (Bass), Mary Spender or Brandon Acker or Rob Scallon on Guitar, among many others. :)
That thing kept going lower and lower in pitch until my walls were rattling, then it went down a little more until my subwoofer just gave up. I've never played a clarinet or even a reed instrument in my life, but now I want to get one of those and learn.
It is great to hear lyrical playing on this rare, beautiful instrument. All I have heard before is the percussive playing featured in the music of Nik Bartsch.
Listening to this piece, the Contrabass definitely helps give it the minor tonality that it was needing with the mid to low ranges. I'm looking forward to seeing what it will be used in.
I was so into the journey of you taking a punt on eBay for an instrument, then discovering it’s qualities on arrival and settling after transit. I simply wasn’t prepared for 4:40 onwards - I’ve never experienced anything like that (and I’m ABRSM 8+ long term pianist). Sheer beauty, I’m gladly speechless ❤️ (this is first YT of yours I’ve seen)
I absolutely love this piece. Unfortunately my contrabass clary fell down my apartment stairs and broke. I miss Alfred. Yes I’m that much of a band nerd that I named my instrument.
@@int0x80 my Bb clarinet is named Jeffery. i named it after someone i don’t like, and i hate that goddamn clarinet. every other month there’s something new wrong with it. first it was my low F key getting “the sads”. now my trill keys got bent out of shape in the one week i went away. my bass clarinet is named “Don Pastrami”. not once has this bass clarinet had a problem that wasn’t super common. i’ve had keys get stuck down and that’s it. the worst i’ve seen from this is it falling over and my reed fucking shattering and that’s it. literally all the weight fell on that poor v21 reed.
I played the contralto clarinet in high school (one of the only people in the state!), and, boy, did this bring back the memories! I could almost feel the reverb in my chest again when you were in the lower register.
Well done! This is the first time that I have listened to a contrabass clarinet. I love its upper and middle range. I really enjoyed the tune you played. Bravo!!! You are very talented!
The last time I played contrabass clarinet was in 1986 (probably before you were born!). Dimensions was absolutely beautiful and I applaud your performance of it. You are an amazing musician to play all those instruments. I stick with the reeds and piano only.
Great buy! Congratulations! That instrument sounds fantastic. I get your passion for collecting musical instruments. I have a collection of keyboards myself. In my living room alone, I have two Hammond consoles (B3000 and B3) and a Roland KR4500 piano!
This is the first one of your videos I've watched, and despite my day job literally being teaching instruments in schools meaning I play a crap ton of wind, orchestral string, and percussion instruments and I'm always trying to get better at the less common ones (oboe, french horn, etc) I STILL lost my mind when Dimensions started and you were playing the harp too... amazing, beautiful work!
I think you pointed out something that many people don't really take into account. To get low notes on woodwinds and brass you are expending a lot of breath. As a french horn player, I learned that lesson well. Then again, we could play nearly full scales simply by changing the amount of air we put through the horn and how we stuffed our hand in the bell. But I can honestly say, I preferred the French/Double horn to the Wagner Tuba, which all horn players are expected to double on for 'reasons.'
Congratulations on your find! I owned a Leblanc paperclip contrabass clarinet for awhile and I can tell you that when I played the lowest notes my eyeballs were vibrating so much that I couldn't read the music! And yes, lots and lots of air is required! I subsequently sold it to a band-mate and she is still honking away on it to this day!
@@InstrumentManiac They really do. The one you have is essentially a newer student/casual model of the original, but made of resin instead of metal. I've not compared the older one to the newer one, but I imagine the newer one is much easier to play. It has a very nice sound. What do you use to record by chance? I'm actually a bit curious. Nice benefit of the original though is that it comes apart in the middle, so the case isn't quite so unwieldy and hard to transport. ;)
My guy you make me want to own and know how to play so many instruments This contrabass is like the perfect blend of instrument types for me 1. Large instrument 2. Awesome range 3. Low notes 4. Sounds freaking gorgeous
As a trumpet player, I never knew how much a clarinet can sound so low and look so flipping long but other than that- that was just beautiful the sound was amazing and just wow…
Fantastic! Of all the instruments I played in high school, contrabass clarinet was always my favorite! :D😁 You played it beautifully; it's amazing to know that you apparently never played a contra before; even though the fingering is the same as the rest of the clarinet family, you surely had to adjust to a slightly new embouchure, etc, yet your playing sounds like you're a seasoned contra player! And how is your contra so in-tune with itself? Leblanc contras are notoriously flat in the low end and sharp in the throat tones. Did you have to use Autotune? I LOVED the instrumentation in this, especially the use of harp!
Thank you! You're right the air & embouchure are the biggest change. Tuning wasn't as much of an issue, I just spent 40 mins warming the instrument up and tinkering around with different reeds and shaving. And in the lower register if you're a few cents off no one can tell anyways 😂
After 5 years of practice, I managed to pick out the opening bars of Three Blind Mice on a descant recorder. When I learned that the notes I knew as G, A, B etc weren't really G, A, B etc, I decided music was a black art for other people to understand and play, and for me to listen to. Still the same 50 years later.
First time ever seeing one of your videos and it made me feel something i havent felt in while, i played bass and contra alto clarinet in high school and always wanted to play contra. Ive started my first year of college, which yes i know its not that far apart, but its enough to make me realize how much i miss these instruments. Your performance was soul moving Keep it Up!!
Lovely mellow sound. I love the tops and middle registers and the bottom is just so growly and superb! I did not know this instrument existed till I watched this, so thank you for introducing it to me. Loved seeing you play so many instruments too, and the music was great.
I have five black cats and as soon as you started playing with all those instruments I had all of them surrounding me, they really like what you were playing it was very soothing and impression.❤
Magnifique son, d'une grande profondeur et d'une bonne justesse, ainsi qu'un très beau timbre. Bravo à vous, c'est la première fois que j'entends quelque chose d'aussi beau à la clarinette contrebasse....
Your seller deserves kudos for his honesty and going to great lengths to pack the fragile instrument with a great deal of care and attention. Who has bubble wrap laying around their house?
wow dude! this is the first of your videos I watched, so i literally just discovered you minutes ago, and i am so grateful for what I found here. I didnt expect at all to hear such beautiful music today! Ashame thati will never be able to hear you playing all this at the same time live in concert… but maybe there will be some future inventions that will make this possible… anyway: This literally made my day! I am a person that plays 9 instruments and that loves every one of them, and everyone calls me just crazy, and seeing you brought back my confidence that you cannot just beeing good at only ONE instrument, but at many, and that there is no need to decide! Thank you foryour Arts man, keep on! Cant wait to explore your channel!
I played this instrument in high school and loved it. Had to use a super high stool and could barely reach it. Many thanks to my bus driver, Mr. Brummel, for helping me out it onto the bus each day. Thanks for sharing this video!
I've got one of these, myself, and it's a blast to play. I got a fantastic deal on mine, a number of years ago (they've really been going up in price in recent years). The one I got was returned by a young student from a store in Wisconsin. It had been traded in on a trombone. Really like using a synthetic reed on mine. I don't believe they're still using the same music package, but one place I used it was on the closing news theme for WBBM TV in Chicago. I let it ring out on a low E at the very end, so it was the last music lots of folks heard in Chicago before they clicked off the TV and went to sleep. ;)
Wonderful sound. Wonderful tune. Good presentation, really placing the instrument in the front to showcase it. In future recordings I would expect it to be dialed back just a bit in the soundscape, though I fully understand your immediate excitement with your new acquisition. Imagine that it came all that way unscathed! Congratulations!
This was wonderful! What a fabulous deal you got on this instrument! I played the contra bass clarinet in school. I LOVED it! I still play the bass clarinet and I will continue playing for ever! There is no beating the suns of these low clarinet sounds. Looking forward to hearing more!
Really nice video. You are truly a multi instrumentalist. I have a LeBlanc paper clip contrabass and the 3 or 4 registers are like separate instruments. Love the low low register horns!! Just subscribed to you channel.
I always liked the sound of a contrabass clarinet, especially in a symphonic concert band or a wind ensemble. It adds a nice texture to the low woodwinds.
I enjoyed this so much! You remind me of my brother, Gus, who likes buying very rare instruments from eBay, Too! The last one was a double-bell euphonium (sp.?) I think! Thank you for sharing this GREAT video, and I'm glad your contrabass clarinet seems to be in great shape! Peace and joy,, Charles
Thank you. I used to play this in high school as a soloist. Brought back the beautiful feeling of the vibrations that flow through your body with each note. Thank you so much. 🥰
This was my absolute favorite instrument to play and I was lucky enough to play one for my last 5 years of grade school. I spent many years playing one and can only dream of having one of my own some day Edit: I started on a Paperclip Contrabass in Middle school moved to a traditional contra like you bought in high school, I liked the paperclip A LOT more
It’s so nice to see someone who uses the bottom three keys (or possibly four for contra) instead of the side pinky keys. It’s a habit I’m slowly breaking but it’s cool to see someone else sub out the side keys for the bottom keys
Dimensions is lovely to listen to 😍 I didn't even know this instrument existed, and like you said the middle range sounds amazing! I laughed at the bottom range how much the sound "vibrated" 🤣 but at the same time has that spooky haunting sensation to it! Glad you're happy with your purchase, looking forward to hearing more 😃
I found myself particularly entranced by the arrangement especially the way the contrabass filled my ears in contrast to the other voicings which were played with more of a staccato feeling.
An amazing instrument, you got lucky even though the very bottom notes are probably not in tune, but does it matter? Your playing is superb and that piece you played, very well done
I got to play the Contrabass clarinet in high school and it is my second favorite instrument ever, only behind my primary instrument: bass guitar. This was such a cool video and you made the instrument sound so well!!!
I just love the sound of dark instruments like the Contrabass series, absolutely fabulous and thanks for sharing
Glad you like it!
I love it too, but I disagree that It sounds dark. I often find that low notes sound warm. When I sing, it is the time I need to be the most relaxed.
@@rebekahlovitt9540 i think he might have meant dark as in the timber instead of the tone. but I'm not him just throwing that possibility out there.
then u like my voice
This instrument is amazing! I play legend of Zelda links awakening and the lower notes sound a lot like Dampe’s shack theme! (Great song you should listen to it) I wonder if dampe’s shack song is played with a contra bass.
not only you own such a rare instrument, but you play it gorgeously!!!!!!! Bravo!!!!!!!
huge respect and love from fellow clarinetist!!!
Thank you I really appreciate it!
and you play the harp gorgeously too!
And cello!
VERY WELL DONE.VALUABLE EXPERINCE
Im a trombonist Muahahahaha
Man, if my experience with contrabasses is anything to go by, you are insanely lucky to find one that is in good working order, let alone one that cheap! Really nice to hear it used melodically here, I'm impressed by how expressive you make it sound!
Thank you Peter! I agree it's definitely a rare bird... and hard to play expressively 😂
Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU. I played contrabass clarinet from 2004-2006 during my last two years of high school and I loved it dearly. You did the instrument such a service with this piece, as you played I remembered how the vibrations of the notes felt & it moved me to tears. You feel the notes more than you hear them, and it takes an amazing amount of lung capacity to play. You feel like you're pouring everything you have into it, and every note reverberates through your entire body. It's like you're one entity, I've never experienced anything like it
I play all saxophones, the flute and all clarinets.
The Bass Clarinet is my favorit of them all. 🙂
@@ThomasJLarsen Yes, bass clarinet gang! I play it too, and though I only play that and the Bb, it's my favourite by a mile. Truly a wonderful instrument
I play all of the clarinets that my school owns (sopranino, soprano, alto, bass, contrabass) and of them, my favorite is by far the contra. it's actually my main instrument :D I'm so happy to see the representation and meet other contrabassists. it's the greatest instrument ever, by leaps and bounds
10:16 I have only played the oboe and then had to transfer to the bass clarinet and that was pretty difficult for me just being a fairly young thin girl. Just playing the bass clarinet the notes were beautiful to me and and kind of move me as I played. I think your description described with beauty.
Being played you could see that the effort just to get the air through them that the instrument, was gorgeous.
When you first said the contrabass all I could think of was do you realize how much are and effort and energy this was going to take. However the beauty of the music was gorgeous at it really made me envious to convey such beauty.
Congrats on getting the contrabass, not only for a great price, but also the fact that they said it was refurbished and it actually was
Exactly my thoughts!
i am 4”11-5”0 and i dragged this case around behind me everytime we had a performance at another facility besides my hs. i miss contrabass but i do not miss my hands being left indented and red from carrying it in 1 hand and a stand in the other. super thankful for all my friends and band mates for helping me carry everything. it took me an unnecessary amount of time to set up bc of all the things i had to carry around. instrument, stand, chair (a stool we kinda just stole from the science lab). anyways, can y’all tell how attached i still am to her and how i still haven’t been able to move on despite graduating a year ago ?
As an erstwhile baritone saxophonist, I feel this so hard. Only regret is never owning my own.
My school doesn’t have contra bass clarinets, I’ve never actually seen one in person but I really want to try playing one someday. I play bass clarinet and I am gonna get a bass clarinet before I graduate high school! I’d feel weird not having one. I just got a tenor sax too so I might end up wanting to save up for a sax too but my bass clarinet comes first. I just have to remember to put money aside in my savings for both post secondary and my instruments. I want to learn as many instruments as possible currently can play bass clarinet, Bb clarinet, tenor saxophone, and ukulele!
I played clarinet. I'm 5 feet tall. When I started at age 9, I was barely able to manage using all the keys. I miss playing in the h.s. band. I graduated in 1968.
@@morganjtempest I bought one last year. A venerable Puple logo Yamaha-32. Love it to bits, and hope you get to own your own beast!
@@onemercilessming1342 I feel ya. I decades after graduation I joined a community band & it reminded me a lot of the high school band, but set it aside when my daughter became school age. She's a college grad now so maybe it's time to go back.
Takes me back to highschool when my teacher for fun got a contrabass to use and let me use it in concert band. The way it makes your head to goop was an amazing feeling
Would be interesting if that came from your high school. It had what looked like a high school property markings on the case.
I use to play contrabass clarinet and enjoyed it thoroughly. This is the first time I heard it from the front end. It is a beautiful instrument. I definitely enjoyed the arrangement.
I hope the person who sold you this instrument will watch your video. He will be delighted for sure!
As a person that actually plays the contrabass, I am amazed at how well your tone quality is. Considering it's not an easy instrument to play good job.
I love how the lower end gives it a string sound and it would be really cool to add to arrangements for color and clarinet ensembles!
The low-end fills the room and makes a group have a lot of depth. The middle register is a rich sound, and has a lot of power that we do not realize until it's playing in an ensemble.
Most clarinet choirs use contras.
I enjoyed listening to "Dimensions" so much - what a beautiful piece it is and you play all the instruments on it so well. It's the first time I've heard a Comtrabass clarinet and I was awed at how well it tied all the other instruments together in the piece. Thank you for this treat Luke, it was lovely listening as probably the last thing before I go to bed tonight.
Glad you enjoyed it Jean!
Dude plays the guitar, harp and Contrabass Clarinet while looking like a body builder. If I have a son in the future that's how I would like him to be, artistic, sensitive and able to kick the shit out of people if necessary, well done my dude, well done!
Don't forget violin and cello as well! He's pretty awesome isn't he?
And good at finding a bargain
10:10 geography skills seem a bit lacking though :-D
DupaGenetics can give you that child. But you have to pay for them in Kruszmarks.
I thought you were going to say that if you have a son, that's what you'd like to be as a father. XD
I played bass clarinet and then contrabass clarinet in college… I absolutely loved it… But about 30 years ago I gave winds up for brass and I now play euphonium which to me is about the same as the contrabass as far as being fun to play… What a great musician you are violin cello Harp etc
Yes a fellow euphonium I'm relatively new at three months highschool band but its such a beautiful internment plus not only can I shock people with the depth but I can shock everyone I know who's said "oh the euphonium can't go high" high b suckers it's funny
Fellow euphonium players! I really want to learn and play the contrabass flute, it’s so expensive though! Also I’m surprised high Bb shocks them, euphoniums can go really high with enough practice!
Such a beautiful and rich solo for a underappreciated instrument. Bravo!
Many thanks Stephen!
Not only can he play multiple instruments, he can also look like a giga chad while playing them!
😂😂
the black t shirt is key. every man should own several (i have six).
It's a perfect man
@@xxmarmxrswcrldxxx I’m assuming he could already play clarinet, and it has the exact same fingering as a clarinet
Keep up the lovely 🎶
Very cool. I was thinking while you were playing, "Man, that's got to take some serious air!" Then you confirmed it. There is a point in contrabass where the low notes just get too poppy to really be pleasant to listen to, but you're right that the middle register is very pleasant.
I used to play a bass clarinet and an e flat alto clarinet when I was a lot younger and the feeling through my body when playing the bass was truly wonderful so I can only imagine how good that feels an octave lower.
Wow. The clarion register literally made me tear up when I first heard it. 😂 It's hard to describe, but like a really, really dense cello sound that almost acts like a cage to the little clarinet that still sits and lingers on the overtones. So freaking beautiful. I love it.
ps. I hope your lungs are ok xD
That's a great description of the sound! Haha they're still recovering 😂
as a basso profundo, this thing absolutely terrifies me to my core
This is extraordinary. Real quality musicianship and creativity. I also appreciate that you made something melodic like this. It really is a wasteland out there. Thank you.
Glad you enjoy it!
Maybe my life's work is to create melodic music for this damn instrument 😂
Amazing. You are a very gifted musician. Watching this was food for the soul. Thank you for sharing your talent and skill with us.
Thanks for your kind note Joe!
That's some genuinely lovely music. I wasn't sure how the contabass clarinet would sound, but it is really solid. Sounds really amazing with the harp. Thank you.
Thanks for listening!
This is absolutely beautiful. I first watched this some time ago and loved it. I've been a jazz bass clarinetist for years. But you helped to inspire me to get my own contra-alto clarinet, and I absolutely love it! Yayyy to all the large clarinets!
I love the "farming equipment" comparison to the low end of the BC. I played one in college and it rattled my fillings on the low end!!
That was so gorgeous, absolutely loved how melodic you played it ❤️ -a bass clarinet player :)
😊
Agreed ❤️ -a contrabass clarinet player :)
agreed - another bass clarinet player :)
agreed -a trombone player
agreed -another bass clarinet player
I've played the trumpet for years. Coming from a fellow musician this was very pleasant and enjoyable to listen to. Congrats on able to get one for a decent price. Well done. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Thank you very much!
I love contrabass instruments so much! They can always sound so grand and majestic in a way! Absolutely coming back and listening again!
It's been a long time since I've been this impressed by musical talent on RUclips. Please don't stop playing and recording music. Never really heard a contrabass clarinet like this, and I have to say I like it.
There's lots of talented musicians on youtube :) - While there are indeed a lot of folks just starting out (which is fine) or hunting more for clicks/likes and viral meme type instrument videos, there are indeed genuinely talented musicians.
Look up Nehre Sol (Piano), Adam Neely (Bass), Mary Spender or Brandon Acker or Rob Scallon on Guitar, among many others. :)
I'm happy for ya Luke that you won the auction and it came in one piece and packed securely. You make nice, soothing music.
That thing kept going lower and lower in pitch until my walls were rattling, then it went down a little more until my subwoofer just gave up. I've never played a clarinet or even a reed instrument in my life, but now I want to get one of those and learn.
It is great to hear lyrical playing on this rare, beautiful instrument. All I have heard before is the percussive playing featured in the music of Nik Bartsch.
Listening to this piece, the Contrabass definitely helps give it the minor tonality that it was needing with the mid to low ranges. I'm looking forward to seeing what it will be used in.
I was so into the journey of you taking a punt on eBay for an instrument, then discovering it’s qualities on arrival and settling after transit.
I simply wasn’t prepared for 4:40 onwards - I’ve never experienced anything like that (and I’m ABRSM 8+ long term pianist).
Sheer beauty, I’m gladly speechless ❤️ (this is first YT of yours I’ve seen)
Thanks for the nice note Calan!
It didn't just work, it's literally beautiful. For having such a rare instrument in custom-fresh-made condition is an honor
I play the Same Contrabassclarinet like 6 Years... it is such an awesome instrument... I love it so much...
I absolutely love this piece. Unfortunately my contrabass clary fell down my apartment stairs and broke. I miss Alfred. Yes I’m that much of a band nerd that I named my instrument.
I'm very sorry to hear about Alfred. Though you should know you're not alone in your band-nerdiness; my bass clarinet is named Benedict
@@int0x80 my Bb clarinet is named Jeffery. i named it after someone i don’t like, and i hate that goddamn clarinet. every other month there’s something new wrong with it. first it was my low F key getting “the sads”. now my trill keys got bent out of shape in the one week i went away. my bass clarinet is named “Don Pastrami”. not once has this bass clarinet had a problem that wasn’t super common. i’ve had keys get stuck down and that’s it. the worst i’ve seen from this is it falling over and my reed fucking shattering and that’s it. literally all the weight fell on that poor v21 reed.
Not a clarinet, but my trombone was named Terra, my violin was named Iris, and my piano does not deserve a name
My Bb Clarinet is named Clarence.
@@kanyoje damn what that piano do to u 💀
I played the contralto clarinet in high school (one of the only people in the state!), and, boy, did this bring back the memories! I could almost feel the reverb in my chest again when you were in the lower register.
Well done! This is the first time that I have listened to a contrabass clarinet. I love its upper and middle range. I really enjoyed the tune you played. Bravo!!! You are very talented!
Thank you W, I really appreciate it!
Feeling my subwoofer work for a Clarinet is one of the coolest things on youtube.
I’m a tuba player and this just warmed my heart! It’s really nice and and those pedal tones! Wow!
I loved playing bass clarinet. I just told my wife I needed one of these for when we start playing our instruments again. Very beautifully played.
That is beautiful!!!
I am happy for you. Obviously you appreciate this instrument.
What an awesome sound.
Thank you very much!
Never heard one of those before, surprisingly deep bass sounds really good.
The last time I played contrabass clarinet was in 1986 (probably before you were born!). Dimensions was absolutely beautiful and I applaud your performance of it. You are an amazing musician to play all those instruments. I stick with the reeds and piano only.
Great buy! Congratulations! That instrument sounds fantastic. I get your passion for collecting musical instruments. I have a collection of keyboards myself. In my living room alone, I have two Hammond consoles (B3000 and B3) and a Roland KR4500 piano!
Congratulations Luke !!! My fun purchase in the last couple weeks was an Alto Flute, I'm mostly a Bass Clarinet player, I also love lower woodwinds
That's awesome congrats on the alto flute!
Good job on hitting 100k! Hope you get your silver play button soon!
This is the first one of your videos I've watched, and despite my day job literally being teaching instruments in schools meaning I play a crap ton of wind, orchestral string, and percussion instruments and I'm always trying to get better at the less common ones (oboe, french horn, etc) I STILL lost my mind when Dimensions started and you were playing the harp too... amazing, beautiful work!
I think you pointed out something that many people don't really take into account. To get low notes on woodwinds and brass you are expending a lot of breath. As a french horn player, I learned that lesson well. Then again, we could play nearly full scales simply by changing the amount of air we put through the horn and how we stuffed our hand in the bell.
But I can honestly say, I preferred the French/Double horn to the Wagner Tuba, which all horn players are expected to double on for 'reasons.'
It sounds like a violoncello or even double bass at times, incredible sound and you played it super well.
Congratulations on your find! I owned a Leblanc paperclip contrabass clarinet for awhile and I can tell you that when I played the lowest notes my eyeballs were vibrating so much that I couldn't read the music! And yes, lots and lots of air is required! I subsequently sold it to a band-mate and she is still honking away on it to this day!
I have an old vintage original leblanc i still play. Its still one of my favorite sounds to produce and play. Beautiful horn and performance dude.
Thank you! Leblanc makes some great contras
@@InstrumentManiac They really do. The one you have is essentially a newer student/casual model of the original, but made of resin instead of metal. I've not compared the older one to the newer one, but I imagine the newer one is much easier to play. It has a very nice sound. What do you use to record by chance? I'm actually a bit curious. Nice benefit of the original though is that it comes apart in the middle, so the case isn't quite so unwieldy and hard to transport. ;)
What wonderful music. The contrasts and dynamics involved... Love it.
I wish there could be more music available
Thanks for listening! Hoping to write and record another contrabass clarinet solo this year 😄
i have no words to describe how beautiful the upper register is, thank you so much for sharing
My guy you make me want to own and know how to play so many instruments
This contrabass is like the perfect blend of instrument types for me
1. Large instrument
2. Awesome range
3. Low notes
4. Sounds freaking gorgeous
Ah glad to hear! It's a great instrument 😄
As a trumpet player, I never knew how much a clarinet can sound so low and look so flipping long but other than that- that was just beautiful the sound was amazing and just wow…
I am amazed at the number of different instruments you play ?!!! You are so talented and this is wonderful to listen to and watch - thank you.
Thanks for listening Vanessa!
Fantastic! Of all the instruments I played in high school, contrabass clarinet was always my favorite! :D😁 You played it beautifully; it's amazing to know that you apparently never played a contra before; even though the fingering is the same as the rest of the clarinet family, you surely had to adjust to a slightly new embouchure, etc, yet your playing sounds like you're a seasoned contra player! And how is your contra so in-tune with itself? Leblanc contras are notoriously flat in the low end and sharp in the throat tones. Did you have to use Autotune? I LOVED the instrumentation in this, especially the use of harp!
Thank you! You're right the air & embouchure are the biggest change. Tuning wasn't as much of an issue, I just spent 40 mins warming the instrument up and tinkering around with different reeds and shaving. And in the lower register if you're a few cents off no one can tell anyways 😂
After 5 years of practice, I managed to pick out the opening bars of Three Blind Mice on a descant recorder. When I learned that the notes I knew as G, A, B etc weren't really G, A, B etc, I decided music was a black art for other people to understand and play, and for me to listen to. Still the same 50 years later.
OMG, what a great sound ! I've never heard one before ! Got to get you a job with a symphony with all the instruments you play ! Bravo !
That was absolutely beautiful to hear. Love the middle register work, not to mention you playing all the other instruments.
That Dimensions piece was absolutely beautiful.
Thank you!
That bass note was absolute hillarious. What a sound.
I think I just fell in love with an instrument!! That sounded so beautiful!!!
First time ever seeing one of your videos and it made me feel something i havent felt in while, i played bass and contra alto clarinet in high school and always wanted to play contra. Ive started my first year of college, which yes i know its not that far apart, but its enough to make me realize how much i miss these instruments. Your performance was soul moving
Keep it Up!!
Lovely mellow sound. I love the tops and middle registers and the bottom is just so growly and superb! I did not know this instrument existed till I watched this, so thank you for introducing it to me. Loved seeing you play so many instruments too, and the music was great.
Glad you like it!
I have five black cats and as soon as you started playing with all those instruments I had all of them surrounding me, they really like what you were playing it was very soothing and impression.❤
Magnifique son, d'une grande profondeur et d'une bonne justesse, ainsi qu'un très beau timbre. Bravo à vous, c'est la première fois que j'entends quelque chose d'aussi beau à la clarinette contrebasse....
Your seller deserves kudos for his honesty and going to great lengths to pack the fragile instrument with a great deal of care and attention. Who has bubble wrap laying around their house?
I have lots of bubble wrap
wow dude! this is the first of your videos I watched, so i literally just discovered you minutes ago, and i am so grateful for what I found here. I didnt expect at all to hear such beautiful music today! Ashame thati will never be able to hear you playing all this at the same time live in concert… but maybe there will be some future inventions that will make this possible…
anyway: This literally made my day!
I am a person that plays 9 instruments and that loves every one of them, and everyone calls me just crazy, and seeing you brought back my confidence that you cannot just beeing good at only ONE instrument, but at many, and that there is no need to decide! Thank you foryour Arts man, keep on!
Cant wait to explore your channel!
I played this instrument in high school and loved it. Had to use a super high stool and could barely reach it. Many thanks to my bus driver, Mr. Brummel, for helping me out it onto the bus each day. Thanks for sharing this video!
I've got one of these, myself, and it's a blast to play. I got a fantastic deal on mine, a number of years ago (they've really been going up in price in recent years). The one I got was returned by a young student from a store in Wisconsin. It had been traded in on a trombone. Really like using a synthetic reed on mine. I don't believe they're still using the same music package, but one place I used it was on the closing news theme for WBBM TV in Chicago. I let it ring out on a low E at the very end, so it was the last music lots of folks heard in Chicago before they clicked off the TV and went to sleep. ;)
You just popped up on my feed. That's a HUGE instrument. I enjoyed your music and how you really sink into it.
Wonderful sound. Wonderful tune. Good presentation, really placing the instrument in the front to showcase it. In future recordings I would expect it to be dialed back just a bit in the soundscape, though I fully understand your immediate excitement with your new acquisition. Imagine that it came all that way unscathed! Congratulations!
This was wonderful! What a fabulous deal you got on this instrument! I played the contra bass clarinet in school. I LOVED it! I still play the bass clarinet and I will continue playing for ever! There is no beating the suns of these low clarinet sounds. Looking forward to hearing more!
Really nice video. You are truly a multi instrumentalist. I have a LeBlanc paper clip contrabass and the 3 or 4 registers are like separate instruments. Love the low low register horns!! Just subscribed to you channel.
I always liked the sound of a contrabass clarinet, especially in a symphonic concert band or a wind ensemble. It adds a nice texture to the low woodwinds.
I enjoyed this so much! You remind me of my brother, Gus, who likes buying very rare instruments from eBay, Too! The last one was a double-bell euphonium (sp.?) I think! Thank you for sharing this GREAT video, and I'm glad your contrabass clarinet seems to be in great shape! Peace and joy,, Charles
Thank you. I used to play this in high school as a soloist. Brought back the beautiful feeling of the vibrations that flow through your body with each note. Thank you so much. 🥰
Bro your amazing you can play so much instruments and the music was beautiful.
wow, it sounds almost like a cello/standup bass at points. such a cool tone. those low notes are CRUNCHY.
This was my absolute favorite instrument to play and I was lucky enough to play one for my last 5 years of grade school. I spent many years playing one and can only dream of having one of my own some day
Edit: I started on a Paperclip Contrabass in Middle school moved to a traditional contra like you bought in high school, I liked the paperclip A LOT more
It’s so nice to see someone who uses the bottom three keys (or possibly four for contra) instead of the side pinky keys. It’s a habit I’m slowly breaking but it’s cool to see someone else sub out the side keys for the bottom keys
Dimensions is lovely to listen to 😍 I didn't even know this instrument existed, and like you said the middle range sounds amazing!
I laughed at the bottom range how much the sound "vibrated" 🤣 but at the same time has that spooky haunting sensation to it!
Glad you're happy with your purchase, looking forward to hearing more 😃
Haha thanks Alex! It'll be useful for spooky season 😂
I found myself particularly entranced by the arrangement especially the way the contrabass filled my ears in contrast to the other voicings which were played with more of a staccato feeling.
An amazing instrument, you got lucky even though the very bottom notes are probably not in tune, but does it matter? Your playing is superb and that piece you played, very well done
Dude your music is beautiful and I’m definitely a life long subscriber
Hi. I find you ridiculously talented. I just made a contribution through your Patreon account to help you with this purchase. Keep up the good work.
Wow I'm stunned Daniel, thank you so much for such a kind contribution!
I truly appreciate it.
Thanks for playing. That was absolutely lovely. It is nice to hear someone else play for a change.
Man, you have a great set of orchestral instruments, and you can actually play them! That's a dream for me!
Such beautiful contrabass clarinet sound, great inspiration for my synthesizer world.
Yeah baby! Let's goo! Gotta love contra clarinet! Also, Dimensions is beautiful!
Thanks man I appreciate it!
Every time I listen to Mancini's Baby Elephant Walk, this instrument comes my head.
Upper register almost sounds like a cello.
Wonderful!
Amazing, impressive sound, that contrabass clarinet.
A masterpiece your performance!
The music, made me very emotional.
Tip for eBay: don't bid until the final 30 seconds. Running it up early can price up some would-be deals. Nice video :)
Dimensions is excellent! Well done. And you’ve got a recordable instrument too. Congratulations for taking the risk. Very enjoyable.
I got to play the Contrabass clarinet in high school and it is my second favorite instrument ever, only behind my primary instrument: bass guitar. This was such a cool video and you made the instrument sound so well!!!
The Contrabass Clarinet just fell in love 😂
😂😂