Considering the unusual music and the odd instrument, he built quite a career, Harry Sparnaay feels, the world-renowned pioneer of the bass clarinet. He still has boyish pleasure playing it.
Harry Sparnaay actually wanted to become a jazz musician. His father agreed, on one condition: attend the school of music for four years first, because 'there are enough twits'. At the academy, Harry discovered the bass clarinet, an instrument that always played a shadow role in the orchestra. As soon as Harry heard that rich, dark sound, he was sold on the thing. Today, he is a world-renowned pioneer on this odd instrument, for which hardly any repertoire had been written. Harry enthusiastically changed this situation, we learn from this documentary portrait. Contemporary composers the world round have written over 650 pieces for him and his bass clarinet. On the eve of a performance in Barcelona, we follow Sparnaay during his busy existence as a musician, conductor and teacher. We hear him play and rehearse, while Roderik de Man composes a new, gruelling piece. Harry beams and still radiates a boyish pleasure.
Credits
Director
Producer
Camera
Set geluid
Geluidsnabewerking
Sound Design
Montage
Production company
Terrain Vague Film
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