On this Valentine’s day I would like to express my new love for the clarinet. It started with Balkan music. Never knew such an orchestral instrument could sound so exotic and soulful. Recently my friend posted this awesome clip from an Albanian film of a man playing the clarinet, and it stuck with me. The low register of the clarinet is like foreign chocolate goodness, while the high register goes perfect with gypsy scales. Here’s the wonderful Albanian tune that I wish I knew more about:

The next influence that led to my new love for the clarinet is good old Igor Stravinsky. From Rite of Spring to his Three Solo Pieces for clarinet, Stravinsky knows just how to play with the clarinet’s wide range to create drama and excitement. Here’s the delightful Three Solo Pieces which I also recently discovered…