Extended family of clarinets
Main article: Clarinet family
There is a family of many differently pitched clarinet types, some of which are very rare. The following are the most important sizes, from highest to lowest:
|
Name |
Key |
Commentary |
Range (concert) |
|
Piccolo clarinet |
A♭ |
Now rare, used for Italian military music and some contemporary pieces for its sonority;[65] |
|
|
E-flat clarinet (sopranino clarinet) |
E♭ |
Characteristic timbre, used in concert band repertoire because its tonality is considered "compatible" with other instruments, especially those in B♭.[3] |
|
|
Sopranino clarinet |
D |
Obscure because of its limited repertoire in Western music.[3] |
|
|
C clarinet |
C |
Rare because its timbre is considered too bright.[66] |
|
|
B♭ soprano clarinet |
B♭ |
The most common type: used in most styles of music.[3] |
|
|
A clarinet |
A |
Has a richer sound than B♭, frequently used in orchestral and chamber music.[3] |
|
|
Basset clarinet |
A |
Clarinet in A extended to a low C; used primarily to play Classical-era music.[67] Mozart's Clarinet Concerto was written for this instrument, though it is frequently played in a version for the ordinary A clarinet. Basset clarinets in Bb also exist; this instrument is required to play the obbligato to the aria "Parto, parto" in Mozart's La Clemenza di Tito. |
|
|
Basset-horn |
F |
Similar in appearance to the alto, but differs in that it is pitched in F, has an extended range to low C, and has a narrower bore on most models. Mozart's Clarinet Concerto was originally sketched out as a concerto for basset horn in G. Rarely used today. |
|
|
Alto clarinet |
E♭ |
Used in chamber music and wind ensembles.[4] |
|
|
Bass clarinet |
B♭ |
Used in contemporary music, concert band and jazz; sometimes used in orchestral music.[3] |
|
|
Contra-alto clarinet (also called E♭ contrabass clarinet) |
EE♭ |
Used in clarinet choirs.[3] |
|
|
Contrabass clarinet (also called B♭ subcontrabass or double-bass clarinet) |
BB♭ |
Used in clarinet choirs and sometimes in orchestras and wind ensembles.[3] |
|
Experimental EEE♭ and BBB♭ octocontra-alto and octocontrabass clarinets have also been built.[68] There have also been soprano clarinets in C, A, and B♭ with curved barrels and bells marketed under the names saxonette, claribel, and clariphon.
See also