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21 Clarinet Compositions from the 21st Century

The clarinet has quite an extensive list of amazing repertoire spanning across a multitude of styles and genres. We have our beloved masterpieces by Mozart, Weber, Brahms, and many more, but what about some more recent repertoire?

Over the last few years, I’ve become more and more interested in modern clarinet compositions. Here are a few of my favourites from the 21st century. (By no means is this list meant to be comprehensive, so I suggest doing some research of your own to discover more of these wonderful pieces!)

*pieces listed alphabetically by composer’s last name*

  1. Samuel Adler – Beyond the Pale (2002)
  2. Ofer-Ben Amots – Klezmer Concerto (2006)
  3. Nicolas Bacri – Ophelia’s Tears for bass clarinet (2019)
  4. Elliott Carter – Clarinet Quintet (2007)
  5. Unsuk Chin – Clarinet Concerto (2013-2014)
  6. Valerie Coleman – Sonatine for clarinet and piano (2005)
  7. Michael Daugherty – Brooklyn Bridge (2005)
  8. Mohanned Fairouz – Tahrir (2006)
  9. Armando Ghidoni – Au rythme des souvenirs (2009) (Listen to me play this here.)
  10. Arthur Gottschalk – Benny, Zoot and Teddy (play Richard and Lorenz) (2012) (Listen to me play this here.)
  11. Peter Hope – Sonata for clarinet and piano (2016) (Listen to me play this here.)
  12. Liza Lim – Sonorous Body (2008)
  13. Eric Mandat – Double Life (2007)
  14. David Maslanka – Desert Roads (2005)
  15. Scott McAllister – Black Dog (2002)
  16. Paul Moravec – Clarinet Concerto (2008)
  17. Oscar Navarro – Clarinet Concerto No. 2 (2012)
  18. Shulamit Ran – Clarinet Concerto “The Show Goes On” (2008)
  19. Paul Schoenfeld – Sonata for Klezmer Clarinet (2013)
  20. Frank Ticheli – Clarinet Concerto (2010)
  21. Ellen Taaffe Zwilich – Clarinet Concerto (2001-2002)

What are your favourite clarinet compositions from the 21st century?

2 Comments

  • Montserrat Obeso

    Hola Jenny:

    Soy soprano y descubrí las composiciones de Clarinete y voz de Ghidoni por casualidad buscando materiales para realizar un concierto de voz clarinete y piano

    Me encanttó la Preghiera y Au rytme des souvenirs en su versión vocal, para incluirlas en mi recital pero no encuentro estas partituras en ninguna parte. Me las podrias hacer llegar en pdf o decirme en que sitio las puedo conseguir?

    Muchas gracias por tu atención y muchos exitos en tu carrera profesional

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