50 Pieces Every Clarinetist Should Know
One of the best parts about playing the clarinet is the wonderful repertoire written for the instrument. From classical to jazz (and every genre in between), there will never be a shortage of great clarinet music.
The plethora of clarinet repertoire can be overwhelming, so I’ve compiled a list of 50 pieces that every serious clarinetist should know. Hopefully, you will have the opportunity to perform many of these pieces during your clarinet careers. In the meantime, it’s important to recognize these pieces and to know about their history and significance within the clarinet repertoire.
Most of these scores can be accessed via the IMSLP (International Music Score Library Project) Petrucci Music Library online, and with services like YouTube, you have no excuse NOT to know these pieces!
So grab a coffee, pull out your scores, and get to listening!
Solo, Concerto, Sonata
- Bernstein – Sonata for Clarinet and Piano
- Brahms – Sonata No. 1 in f minor, Op. 120, No. 1
- Brahms – Sonata No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 120, No. 2
- Copland – Concerto
- Debussy – Première rhapsodie
- Françaix – Concerto
- Hindemith – Sonata
- Mozart – Concerto in A Major, K. 622
- Nielsen – Concerto, Op. 57
- Poulenc – Sonata for Clarinet and Piano
- Rossini – Introduction, Theme and Variations
- Saint-Saens – Sonata, Op. 167
- Schumann – Fantasy Pieces, Op. 73
- Stravinsky – Three Pieces
- Carl Stamitz – Concerto No. 3 in B-flat major
- Weber – Concertino, Op. 26
- Weber – Concerto in f minor, Op. 73
- Weber – Concerto in E-flat major, Op. 74
Chamber Music
- Béla Bartók – Contrasts, Sz. 111, BB 116
- Beethoven – Trio in B-flat major, Op. 11
- Beethoven – Septet in E-flat major, Op. 20
- Brahms – Trio in A minor, Op. 114
- Brahms – Quintet in B minor, Op. 115
- Mendelssohn – Konzertstück No. 1 in F major, Op. 113
- Mendelssohn – Konzertstück No. 2 in D minor, Op. 114
- Messiaen – Quatuor pour la fin du temps
- Mozart – Kegelstatt Trio in E-flat major, K. 498
- Mozart – Quintet in A major, K. 581
- Poulenc – Sonata for Two Clarinets
- Schubert – Shepherd on the Rock, D. 965
- Schumann – Fairy Tales, Op. 132
- Stravinsky – l’Histoire du Soldat
- Weber – Quintet in B-flat major, Op. 34
Orchestral
- Bartók – The Miraculous Mandarin, Op. 19, Sz. 73 BB 82
- Beethoven – Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major, Op. 60
- Beethoven – Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68
- Beethoven – Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93
- Brahms – Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90
- Brahms – Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98
- Gershwin – Rhapsody in Blue
- Kodály – Dances of Galánta
- Mendelssohn – A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Op. 61
- Prokofiev – Peter and the Wolf, Op. 67
- Rachmaninoff – Symphony No. 2 in e minor, Op. 27
- Ravel – Daphnis et Chloé
- Respighi – Pines of Rome
- Rimsky-Korsakov – Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34
- Rimsky-Korsakov – Scheherazade Op. 35
- Shostakovich – Symphony No. 9 in E-flat major, Op. 70
- Stravinsky – Firebird
Here is a downloadable list with these 50 pieces, along with space for you to add your own pieces to the list.
Leave a comment below with any pieces you think every clarinetist should know!
For even more suggestions, check out my 50 More Pieces Every Clarinetist Should Know.
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20 Comments
Veon Yap
Thank you for sharing the list!
I would like to add this great piece composed by a late Australian composer.
Clarinet Concerto by Colin Brumby
https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/product/clarinet-concerto-piano-reduction
jennyclarinet
Thank you for the recommendation – I’ll take a listen!
Martin
Hello, I find the list very interesting !!! I think of my Latin American mind as two fundamental works of the Latin American repertoire, which I believe today are already part of the universal repertoire:
Guastavino – Clarinet Sonata
Marquez – Zarabandeo
Maybe in another 50!! ;)
jennymaclay
Thank you! These are both great works. You’re right, maybe I should do another 50! :)
Rolf
I would add:
Guisganderie, Faustin + Maurice Jeanjean
Concerto for Clarinet, Artie Shaw
Chris
I might add Poulenc for clarinet and bassoon.
jennymaclay
Great piece! I added it in Part 2 :)
Professor Anton Weinberg
THE list is very conservative and does not recognise either musical quality or technical variations. Surely the Berg 4 pieces should be there instead of one or two other dubious works, as should be the Two Studies of Egon Wellesz. Also the chamber music list is simply ridiculous in its conservative brevity. while all the works are definitely worth knowing and performing one has to ask-given the list as it stands–“to what end?” One learns repertoire to also expand the musical awareness and empathy for interpretative development.
jennymaclay
Thank you for the feedback! I’ve chosen these pieces based on their historical significance and importance within the clarinet repertoire. Admittedly, it was difficult to narrow my list to just 50 pieces, and I’m glad to have opened a conversation about the important clarinet works. The Berg and Wellesz are both great pieces, and I’d be interested in reading your list to see your suggestions.
Dave G
Yes, the Weber Grand Duo Concertante is easily the equal of his other clarinet works, IMO.
jennymaclay
Thanks for reading! The Weber Grand Duo was thisclose to making the cut, but I left it off to keep this list to 50 pieces. It’s definitely equal to his other clarinet works, so I’ll have to include it in Part 2!
Anonymous
Weber Grand Duo Concertante
Luis humberto ramos
Very good standard seleccion.
jennymaclay
Thanks Luis!
Georg
Good basic compilation of the good old classics;-)
jennymaclay
Thank you Georg!
John
All very good. I have played a fair majority if these but will start to collect these so I can practice them. Is it possible to put thus list in a downloadable format
jennymaclay
Thanks John! I’ve just created a printable checklist, which you can open at the bottom of the article or access on my Resources page.
Rose Sperrazza
The Martinu Revue de Cuisine is lots of fun. I’d also add Martinu’s Sonatina for clarinet and piano. Both are challenging but worth the effort. And Muczynski’s Time Pieces are good for advanced students. There’s so much repertoire! It’s fun to grow a list if favorites. Great blog Jenny.
jennymaclay
Thanks so much Rose! I’ll definitely add the Martinu and Muczynski to part 2!