Favorite Wedding Classics: Clarinet Book

Snell's arrangements preserve the emotional weight of these beloved classics while solving a real programming challenge: finding substantial clarinet literature suitable for weddings that doesn't require a full ensemble. The flexibility to perform as solo, duet, or trio means you can adapt to whatever clarinetists show up on the day.

These arrangements carry the timeless elegance of wedding classics, with the warmth and lyrical quality the clarinet brings to such occasions. Each piece maintains the grandeur and emotional resonance audiences expect while allowing the clarinet to shine as the primary voice.

Clarinetists at the intermediate to advanced level who need reliable repertoire for wedding ceremonies and receptions. This collection works equally well for recital soloists preparing wedding performance programs or for chamber groups looking for elegant classical arrangements that don't require strings or full instrumentation.

• Balance the melody with accompaniment voices. If playing as a trio, ensure the principal clarinet part projects without the harmonic voices getting buried.
• Attend to phrase shape across longer lines. These classical pieces often span multiple measures; map the arc before rehearsal so phrasing feels inevitable rather than punctuated.
• Use the piano accompaniment to establish harmonic and rhythmic stability, especially in slower movements where ensemble precision matters most.
• Practice the transitions between pieces if you're playing multiple selections back-to-back. Brief breathing room prevents the recital from feeling rushed.

Feature individual pieces as ceremony music (processional, recessional, or signing of the register) or group several selections into a wedding prelude recital. The collection also works beautifully in programs pairing classical masterworks with contemporary compositions, giving clarinetists substantial solo or chamber repertoire for formal occasions.

• Phrasing and interpretation of Baroque and Romantic masterworks
• Chamber ensemble balance and blend across solo, duet, and trio configurations
• Adaptation to different accompaniment options (piano, second clarinet, or unaccompanied)
• Control and lyricism in slower, sustained passages typical of wedding literature