Role of the Performer - Vienna Clarinet Connection

Introduction:

Vienna Clarinet Connection is a clarinet choir that I have been listening to for years. They are an incredibly talented group based in Vienna, Austria. The group consists of two clarinets (Helmut Hodl and Rupert Frankhauser), one basset horn (Hubert Salmhofer), and one bass clarinet (Wolfgang Kornberger). I originally started listening to Vienna Clarinet Connection, because I was searching for some pieces for an All State Clarinet Choir I was in during my junior year of high school. As someone who had played the bass clarinet in band and clarinet choirs for years, I was shocked when I heard the beautiful tones and low notes of the bass clarinetist in Vienna Clarinet Connection's rendition of "Stompin' at the Savoy". Ever since then, they have been my favorite musical group and I still enjoy listening to their pieces four years later.

Background of the Musicians:

According to viennaclarinetconnection.org, Helmut Hodl is the principal clarinetist in the Vienna Volksoper Orchestra. Rupert Frankhauser and Wolfgang Kornberger teach at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. Finally, Hubert Salmhofer teaches at the Klagenfort Conservatory. Hodl founded the Vienna Clarinet Connection and according to classicalnext.com, the group gave their first performance in 1995 at a Porgy & Bess Music Club in Vienna and since then have made their mark on the clarinet choir and chamber communities.

Analysis:

 

"Stompin' at the Savoy" was originally a song by Benny Goodman, who was one of the greatest clarinetists and swing artists to ever live. Vienna Clarinet Connection did their own arrangement and recording of this in Vienna, Austria, It was posted onto YouTube on March 30, 2016 as a part of their album "Clarinets a la King".

"Rhapsody in Blue" was originally a song by George Gershwin, released on February 12, 1924. Vienna Clarinet Connection did a spectacular performance on their arrangement of the piece. The group shortened the piece (which is usually well over 20 minutes when played correctly) and created their own arrangement with the same sound and quality that the original piece had. Vienna Clarinet Connection released this piece onto YouTube on April 14, 2016 as a part of their album "Clarinets a la King".

Role of the Performer:

Vienna Clarinet Connection doesn't create very much of their own music, but are more recognized for their covers of famous classical and jazz pieces. According to classicalnext.com, Vienna Clarinet Connection aims to "blur the lines" between different types of music. Whether they play a jazz improvisation or some classical repertoire, they want to create their own unique sound. They arrange a lot of famous pieces from the "swing era" in early 20th century American history that sound like the original piece, but aren't exactly like it. They are very talented have great communication as a group (something that clarinet choirs can take years to perfect). Also, Vienna Clarinet Connection arranges themselves more like a string quartet and not a clarinet choir. This allows for them to play even more unusual pieces for a small ensemble such as theirs. I believe that Vienna Clarinet Connection gives these old pieces a new sound that more people (other than classical music fans) can appreciate.

Timbre:

The timbre (tone quality) of this group in immaculate. Every note is clear and has its place in the piece. In "Stompin' at the Savoy", Vienna Clarinet Choir uses a lot of chords with the clarinets and basset horn, while the bass clarinet does some runs. The clarinet's high notes are nearly perfection. Every note, no matter how accented or high it is, is great and has no "airy" sounds. The basset horn has a very good tone to it. It is very difficult to get a note that isn't flat or sharp when playing the basset horn or alto clarinet, so the fact that the player is getting each note to sound in tune is incredible. The bass clarinetist has amazing tone as well. His low notes are rich, with a very deep and resonate sound. His high notes aren't "airy" or "squeaky", but very clear and float right above the other clarinets. This is very impressive, as it took me 5 years to get to that point and they still don't sound nearly as good as Kornberger's playing. In "Rhapsody in Blue",  Vienna Clarinet Connection starts with the famous "slide up" that a solo clarinet does in the original piece with an orchestra. Doing this on a clarinet takes years of practice, so a whole clarinet choir doing it (including the bass clarinet and basset horn) is jaw-dropping. When they hit the high note, their harmony is amazing. The high notes in that chord are balanced, clear, and overall very impressive. Being a bass clarinetist, the bass clarinet sounds especially good in this arrangement. His low notes are easy to notice and they sound fantastic! Everything about the timbre from this group is spot-on.

Dynamics:

The dynamics in "Stompin' at the Savoy" are amazing. I find that a lot of people don't know how hard it is to get your clarinet choir to play "piano" (soft). It's easy to fit everything together and just play, but slowing down and playing quieter very difficult as a group. The fact that all four of these musicians become so soft that you have to listen closer in the middle section of the piece is insane. That takes talent and good teamwork. They aren't just four clarinets playing together, but one musical machine that can become really loud and really soft immediately. Vienna Clarinet Connection is great at making eye contact with one another and signaling when they need to play "piano" (soft) or "forte" (loud). In "Rhapsody in Blue", the dynamics are even more impressive. The "slide up" they do at the beginning is a great example of how great they are at doing a crescendo and still keeping their tone quality (e.g. they aren't squeaking when they raise in pitch and volume). Whenever there is a soft section, you have to listen closely to hear them and whenever there is a louder section, they don't hurt your ears or "overplay" (become too loud). Some clarinet choirs I played in had members that were competitive with one another and always tried to play their background part like it was a solo! Vienna Clarinet Connection doesn't do this at all. They have incredible dynamics that really add that professionalism and emotion to the piece that the original writer intended.

Personal Opinion:

I think that Vienna Clarinet Connection is a very underrated group. It's hard to find a clarinet choir that works so well together and has so much talent! Every note they play is perfect. The tone, resonance, dynamics, and harmony is amazing. I really believe they deserve more credit as artists. As someone who played bass clarinet for years and was in many clarinet choirs as a bass clarinet, alto clarinet, and soprano clarinet, I can definitely say that Vienna Clarinet Connection is one of the most impressive groups I have seen. I love their style, the emotions they portray in their movement and music, and the arrangements they make that are not only unique, but still give the same feel as the original piece. Vienna Clarinet Connection is just as skilled as the people who wrote those songs.

 

Sources:

“About Us.” Vienna Clarinet Connection, 6 Feb. 2018, viennaclarinetconnection.org/about/.

Viennaclarinetcom, director. Vienna Clarinet Connection - Rhapsody in Blue. YouTube, YouTube, 14 Apr. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0u5xn6o-mM.

Viennaclarinetcom, director. Vienna Clarinet Connection - Stompin' at the Savoy. YouTube, YouTube, 31 Mar. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmMRzsPgSLk.

“Vienna Clarinet Connection.” Classical, www.classicalnext.com/net/vienna_clarinet/vienna_clarinet.

“Helmut Hödl.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Nov. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmut_H%C3%B6dl.