Quick Link: GraingerWindSymphony.asn.au/clarinets

Clarinet Family

Introduction

The clarinet has the largest useable range of any of the wind instruments. For this reason, it was very popular in jazz music, and is equally at home playing classical music. This helps to make it one of the fundamental building-blocks of the Wind Symphony. Traditionally made of wood, many student models are instead made of plastic which makes them more durable and reduces maintenance.

The clarinet is a single-reeded instrument, whose sound is made by a vibrating reed clamped to a mouthpiece by a ligature.

History

The Clarinet was made popular in the 1700s and loved and used extensively by Mozart for his friend Anton Stadler.

E Flat Clarinet

The E Flat clarinet is the highest clarinet used in the Wind Symphony. It is notoriously difficult to tune, and is one of the highest members of the whole Wind Symphony.

B Flat Clarinet

The most common Wind Symphony clarinet, the B Flat clarinet is often used in large numbers to provide a warm, blended sound.

A Clarinet

Mostly used in orchestras, the A clarinet is often used where key signatures make the B Flat Clarinet difficult to play. For example, a piece written in A major (three sharps) would be in B major (five sharps) for the B flat clarinet, but C major (no sharps or flats) for the A clarinet.

Alto Clarinet

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Bass Clarinet

The distinctive shape of the bass clarinet should be enough of a hint for you to realise that it was designed by Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone.

Contraalto / E Flat Contrabass Clarinet

The Contraalto Clarinet is the same shape as the Bass Clarinet, but speaks a fourth below, in the key of E Flat.

B Flat Contrabass Clarinet

The lowest instrument in the clarinet family, sometimes referred to as 'the paperclip' because of its entire metal construction and many bends, the contrabass clarinet is sometimes used, and helps to create a great warmth and depth of sounds, as well as helping the low woodwinds blend with the low brass .

Links

CLASAX - The Clarinet and Saxophone Society of Victoria