Editing Contrabass clarinet (section)

== Use in contemporary classical music ==
The contrabass clarinet has a relatively modest yet increasing presence in modern compositions. It is most commonly used in works for wind band, clarinet choir, and solo contrabass clarinet, though there exist pieces for orchestra and other ensembles that call for the contrabass clarinet, and the contrabass clarinet is heavily featured in many film scores.

Some notable composers who have written for the contrabass or contra-alto clarinet include [[Alfred Reed]], [[Vincent Persichetti]], [[John Adams (composer)|John Adams]], [[Philip Glass]], [[David Maslanka]], [[John Mackey (composer)|John Mackey]], [[Daniel Dorff]], [[Franco Donatoni]], and David Bennett Thomas.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maslanka |first=Matthew |title=Works |url=https://davidmaslanka.com/works1/ |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=David Maslanka |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Products {{!}} John Mackey |url=https://www.johnmackey.com/music/ |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=www.johnmackey.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Music by Daniel Dorff |url=https://danieldorff.com/ |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=danieldorff.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Instrumental Chamber and Solo Music {{!}} David Bennett Thomas {{!}} Composer |url=https://www.davidbthomas.com/compositions/chamber-solo/ |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=www.davidbthomas.com}}</ref>

A catalog of compositions featuring the contrabass clarinet was compiled in 2017 by performer Sarah Watts and may be downloaded without a fee from her website.<ref>{{Cite web |title=sarahkwatts.co.uk |url=http://www.sarahkwatts.co.uk/free-repertoire-guides.html |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=www.sarahkwatts.co.uk}}</ref>

=== Concert band ===
The modern [[Wind band|concert band]] (also known as a wind band or wind orchestra) is the ensemble in which the contrabass clarinet is most often found. Most modern concert band scores have parts for either contrabass or contra-alto clarinet, and the contrabass clarinet is useful within a balanced band instrumentation to solidify the low range of the [[Woodwind instrument|woodwind]] section.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Neilson |first=Dr. James |date=April 1, 1965 |title=Ideal Instrumentation for Concert Band |journal=Music Journal |volume=23 |issue=4 |pages=48 |via=ProQuest}}</ref> The increasing consistency of the contrabass clarinet's inclusion in the modern concert band allows contemporary band composers to score exposed passages or solos for the instrument, which are not typically seen in other ensembles that may include the contrabass clarinet.

Some notable band works that feature the contrabass clarinet include ''Blue Shades'' by [[Frank Ticheli]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blue Shades: 25th Anniversary Edition Virtual Score |url=https://www.manhattanbeachmusiconline.com/frank_ticheli/blue-shades-25th-anniversary-edition-virtual-score.html |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=www.manhattanbeachmusiconline.com}}</ref> which features a contrabass clarinet solo, and ''One Life Beautiful'' by [[Julie Giroux]], which calls for either a contrabass clarinet in B♭ or a contra-alto clarinet in E♭. It is specified by the composer that this part is not optional.<ref>{{Cite web |title=One Life Beautiful by Julie Giroux |url=https://www.juliegiroux.org/one-life-beautiful |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=Julie Giroux |language=en}}</ref>

=== Clarinet choir ===
The contrabass clarinet forms the lowest bass voice of a modern [[clarinet choir]]. While not all contemporary compositions for clarinet choir include parts for the contrabass clarinet, many do, especially more recent pieces.

Some notable works for clarinet choir that call for contrabass clarinet include ''Gather at The Rock'' by Jenni Brandon<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-18 |title=Gather at the Rock for Clarinet Choir |url=https://jennibrandon.com/product/gather-at-the-rock-for-clarinet-choir/ |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=Jenni Brandon |language=en-US}}</ref> and ''Dusk'' by [[Steven Bryant (composer)|Steven Bryant]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dusk (Clarinet Choir) – Music |url=https://www.stevenbryant.com/music/catalog/dusk-clarinet-choir |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=Steven Bryant |language=en}}</ref>

=== Solo repertoire ===
The contrabass clarinet as a solo instrument has only been explored relatively recently, mirroring the relative recency of the instrument's modern development. The body of works for solo contrabass clarinet, encompassing works for unaccompanied contrabass clarinet, contrabass clarinet and piano, and contrabass clarinet and orchestra, is expanding rapidly as contemporary composers continue to explore its unique characteristics and capabilities.

Some notable works for solo contrabass clarinet include [[Lucien Goethals]]'s ''Concerto for Contrabass Clarinet and Orchestra'', ''Soul Searching - Contrabass Clarinet Concerto'' by Martin Georgiev,<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVkse4-H9As |title=Soul Searching - Contrabass Clarinet Concerto (2016) |date=2017-08-03 |last=Martin Georgiev |access-date=2024-12-09 |via=YouTube}}</ref> ''Ombra I'' and ''Ombra II'' by [[Franco Donatoni]],<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rtA9Nn1yqU |title=Franco Donatoni- Ombra for contrabass clarinet |date=2018-12-19 |last=Jason Alder |access-date=2024-12-09 |via=YouTube}}</ref> and ''Into the Depths'' by Elizabeth Kelly.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpSN3RHSVxA |title=Into The Depths for contrabass clarinet and piano, by Elizabeth Kelly |date=2020-05-23 |last=Sarah Watts |access-date=2024-12-09 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

=== Orchestra ===
The contrabass clarinet is a very rare visitor to the standard symphony orchestra as a member of the clarinet section, and most orchestra pieces that call for contrabass clarinet feature the instrument as a soloist. Still, there have been occasional additions to the orchestral repertoire that feature the contrabass clarinet, including ''[[On the Transmigration of Souls]]'' by [[John Adams (composer)|John Adams]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=John Adams - On the Transmigration of Souls |url=https://www.boosey.com/cr/music/Adams-On-the-Transmigration-of-Souls/26239 |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=www.boosey.com}}</ref> ''[[Amériques]]'' by [[Edgard Varèse]], and ''La Terre est un homme'' by [[Brian Ferneyhough]], which all call for contrabass clarinet as a part of their expanded woodwind sections.<ref>{{Cite web |title=La Terre est un homme |url=https://brahms.ircam.fr/en/work/la-terre-est-un-homme |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=brahms.ircam.fr}}</ref>

=== Notable appearances in opera and film ===

* ''[[Prometeo]]'', an unconventional opera by [[Luigi Nono]], features the contrabass clarinet.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prometeo. Tragedia dell'ascolto |url=https://www.luiginono.it/en/works/prometeo-tragedia-dellascolto/ |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=Luigi Nono |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Kepler, an opera by [[Philip Glass]], features a part for contrabass clarinet doubling bass clarinet.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kepler – Philip Glass |url=https://philipglass.com/compositions/kepler/ |access-date=2024-12-09 |language=en-US}}</ref>
* A prominent contra-alto/contrabass clarinet solo may be heard in a song from the score for the 1968 film ''[[Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day]]''.
* Composer [[Colin Stetson]] uses the contrabass clarinet extensively in the score for the 2018 film ''[[Hereditary (film)|Hereditary]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-06-15 |title=HEREDITARY – Colin Stetson |url=https://moviemusicuk.us/2018/06/15/hereditary-colin-stetson/ |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=MOVIE MUSIC UK |language=en}}</ref>
* Composer [[Howard Shore]] features the contrabass clarinet in the score for the 2002 film ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]''.<ref>{{Citation |title=Music of The Lord of the Rings film series |date=2024-11-11 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_The_Lord_of_the_Rings_film_series#cite_note-20 |access-date=2024-12-09 |language=en}}</ref>