Clarinet

The word "clarinet" may have entered the English language via the French (the feminine diminutive of Old French ), or from Provençal , originating from the Latin root . The word is related to Middle English , a type of trumpet, the name of which derives from the same root. The earliest mention of the word "clarinette" being used for the instrument dates to a 1710 order placed by the Duke of Gronsfeld for two instruments made by Jacob Denner. The English form "clarinet" is found as early as 1733, and the now-archaic "clarionet" appears from 1784 until the early 20th century. A person who plays the clarinet is called a clarinetist (in North American English), a clarinettist (in British English), or simply a clarinet player. == Development ==

, 1732 used by Anton Stadler since 1789 and a replica The modern clarinet developed from a Baroque instrument called the chalumeau. This instrument was similar to a recorder, but with a single-reed mouthpiece and a cylindrical bore. Lacking a register key, it was played mainly in its fundamental register, with a limited range of about one and a half octaves. It had eight finger holes, like a recorder, and a written pitch range from F3 to G4. At this time, contrary to modern practice, the reed was placed in contact with the upper lip. Around the beginning of the 18th century the German instrument maker Johann Christoph Denner (or possibly his son Jacob Denner) equipped a chalumeau in the alto register with two keys, one of which enabled access to a higher register. This second register did not begin an octave above the first, as with other woodwind instruments, but started an octave and a perfect fifth higher than the first. A second key, at the top, extended the range of the first register to A4 and, together with the register key, to B4. Later, Denner lengthened the bell and provided it with a third key to extend the pitch range down to E3. In 1791 Mozart composed the Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra in A major for this instrument, with passages ranging down to C3. By the time of Beethoven (), the clarinet was a fixed member in the orchestra. The number of keys was limited because their felt pads did not seal tightly. Iwan Müller invented the stuffed pad, originally made of kid leather. These in combination with countersunk tone holes sealed the keyholes sufficiently to permit the use of an increased number of keys. In 1812 Müller presented a clarinet with seven finger holes and thirteen keys, which he called "clarinet omnitonic" since it was capable of playing in all keys. It was no longer necessary to use differently tuned clarinets for different keys. Müller is also considered the inventor of the metal ligature and the thumb rest. During this period the typical embouchure also changed, orienting the mouthpiece with the reed facing downward. This was first recommended in 1782 and became standard by the 1830s. In the late 1830s, and the Reform Boehm system, which combined Boehm-system keywork with a German mouthpiece and bore. The Albert clarinet was developed by Eugène Albert in 1848. This model was based on the Müller clarinet with some changes to keywork, and was also known as the "simple system". It included a "spectacle key" patented by Adolphe Sax and rollers to improve little-finger movement. After 1861, a "patent C sharp" key developed by Joseph Tyler was added to other clarinet models. Improved versions of Albert clarinets were built in Belgium and France for export to the UK and the US. Around 1860, clarinettist Carl Baermann and instrument maker Georg Ottensteiner developed the patented Baermann/Ottensteiner clarinet. This instrument had new connecting levers, allowing multiple fingering options to operate some of the pads. In the early 20th century, the German clarinetist and clarinet maker Oskar Oehler presented a clarinet using similar fingerings to the Baermann instrument, with significantly more toneholes than the Böhm model. The new clarinet was called the Oehler system clarinet or German clarinet, while the Böhm clarinet has since been called the French clarinet. The French clarinet differs from the German not only in fingering but also in sound. Richard Strauss noted that "French clarinets have a flat, nasal tone, while German ones approximate the singing voice". Among modern instruments the difference is smaller, although intonation differences persist. Today the Boehm system is standard everywhere except in Germany and Austria, where the Oehler clarinet is still used. Some contemporary Dixieland players continue to use Albert system clarinets. The Reform Boehm system is also popular in the Netherlands. == Acoustics ==

The clarinet's cylindrical bore is the main reason for its distinctive timbre, which varies between the three main registers (the chalumeau, clarion, and altissimo). The A and B clarinets have nearly the same bore and nearly identical tonal quality, although the A typically has a slightly warmer sound. The tone of the E clarinet is brighter and can be heard through loud orchestral textures. The bass clarinet has a characteristically deep, mellow sound, and the alto clarinet sounds similar to the bass, though not as dark. The production of sound by a clarinet follows these steps: • The mouthpiece and reed are surrounded by the player's lips, which put light, even pressure on the reed and form an airtight seal. Air is blown past the reed and down the instrument. In the same way a flag flaps in the breeze, the air rushing past the reed causes it to vibrate. As air pressure from the mouth increases, the amount the reed vibrates increases until the reed hits the mouthpiece.The reed stays pressed against the mouthpiece until either the springiness of the reed forces it to open or a returning pressure wave 'bumps' into the reed and opens it. Each time the reed opens, a puff of air goes through the gap, after which the reed swings shut again. When played loudly, the reed can spend up to 50% of the time shut. The 'puff of air' or compression wave (at around 3% greater pressure than the surrounding air This in combination with the cut-off frequency (where a significant drop in resonance occurs) results in the characteristic tone of the clarinet. The bore is cylindrical for most of the tube with an inner bore diameter between , but there is a subtle hourglass shape, with the thinnest part below the junction between the upper and lower joint. This hourglass shape, although invisible to the naked eye, helps to correct the pitch and responsiveness of the instrument. The diameter of the bore affects the instrument's sound characteristics. The bell at the bottom of the clarinet flares out to improve the tone and tuning of the lowest notes. Covering or uncovering the tone holes varies the length of the pipe, changing the resonant frequencies of the enclosed air column and hence the pitch. The player moves between the chalumeau and clarion registers through use of the register key. The open register key stops the fundamental frequency from being reinforced, making the reed vibrate at three times the frequency, which produces a note a twelfth above the original note. Their vocal tract will be shaped to resonate at frequencies associated with the tone being produced. Vibrato, a pulsating change of pitch, is rare in classical literature; however, certain performers, such as Richard Stoltzman, use vibrato in classical music. Other effects are glissando, growling, trumpet sounds, double tongue, flutter tongue and circular breathing. Special lip-bending may be used to play microtonal intervals. There have also been efforts to create a quarter tone clarinet. == Construction ==

Materials Clarinet bodies have been made from a variety of materials including wood, plastic, hard rubber or Ebonite, metal, and ivory. The vast majority of wooden clarinets are made from African blackwood (grenadilla), or, more uncommonly, Honduran rosewood, cocobolo, or mopane. Historically other woods, particularly boxwood and ebony, were used. Since the mid-20th century, clarinets (particularly student or band models) are also made from plastics, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). One of the first such blends of plastic was Resonite, a term originally trademarked by Selmer. The Greenline model by Buffet Crampon is made from a composite of resin and the African blackwood powder left over from the manufacture of wooden clarinets. Metal soprano clarinets were popular in the late 19th century, particularly for military use. Metal is still used for the bodies of some contra-alto and contrabass clarinets and the necks and bells of nearly all alto and larger clarinets. Mouthpieces are generally made of hard rubber, although some inexpensive mouthpieces may be made of plastic. Other materials such as glass, wood, ivory, and metal have also been used. Ligatures are often made of metal and tightened using one or more adjustment screws; other materials include plastic, string, or fabric. Reed The clarinet uses a single reed made from the cane of Arundo donax. Reeds may also be manufactured from synthetic materials. The ligature fastens the reed to the mouthpiece. When air is blown through the opening between the reed and the mouthpiece facing, the reed vibrates and produces the clarinet's sound. Most players buy manufactured reeds, although many make adjustments to these reeds, and some make their own reeds from cane "blanks". Reeds come in varying degrees of hardness, generally indicated on a scale from one (soft) through five (hard). This numbering system is not standardized—reeds with the same number often vary in hardness across manufacturers and models. Reed and mouthpiece characteristics work together to determine ease of playability and tonal characteristics. Components clarinet The reed is attached to the mouthpiece by the ligature, and the top half-inch or so of this assembly is held in the player's mouth. In the past, string was used to bind the reed to the mouthpiece. The formation of the mouth around the mouthpiece and reed is called the embouchure. The reed is on the underside of the mouthpiece, pressing against the player's lower lip, while the top teeth normally contact the top of the mouthpiece (some players roll the upper lip under the top teeth to form what is called a 'double-lip' embouchure). Adjustments in the strength and shape of the embouchure change the tone and intonation. Players sometimes relieve the pressure on the upper teeth and inner lower lip by attaching a pad to the top of the mouthpiece or putting temporary cushioning on the lower teeth. The mouthpiece attaches to the barrel. Tuning can be adjusted by using barrels of varying lengths or by pulling out the barrel to increase the instrument's length. On basset horns and lower clarinets, there is a curved metal neck instead of a barrel. The main body of most clarinets has an upper joint, whose mechanism is mostly operated by the left hand, and a lower joint, mostly operated by the right hand. Some clarinets have a one-piece body. The modern soprano clarinet has numerous tone holes—seven are covered with the fingertips and the rest are operated using a set of 17 keys. The most common system of keys was named the Boehm system by its designer Hyacinthe Klosé after flute designer Theobald Boehm, but it is not the same as the Boehm system used on flutes. The other main key system is the Oehler system, which is used mostly in Germany and Austria. The related Albert system is used by some jazz, klezmer, and eastern European folk musicians. The Albert and Oehler systems are both based on the early Mueller system. The cluster of keys at the bottom of the upper joint (protruding slightly beyond the cork of the joint) are known as the trill keys and are operated by the right hand. The entire weight of the smaller clarinets is supported by the right thumb behind the lower joint on what is called the thumb rest. Larger clarinets are supported with a neck strap or a floor peg. Below the main body is a flared end known as the bell. The bell does not amplify the sound but improves the uniformity of the instrument's tone for the lowest notes in each register. == Clarinet family and ranges ==

Clarinets have the largest pitch range of common woodwinds. The range of a clarinet is usually divided into three registers. The low chalumeau register extends from the notated E (C if available) to the notated B♭. The middle clarion register covers a little more than an octave (from the written B to C). The high altissimo register consists of the notes above it. The three registers have characteristically different sounds: the chalumeau is full and dark, the clarion register is brighter and sweet, like a high trumpet from a distance, and the altissimo can be piercing and sometimes shrill. Initially only C clarinets were available, but soon clarinets in B♭ and A and the basset horn in F and G were developed. From the 19th century to the middle of the 20th century, an extensive family of clarinets developed, from high A♭ to subcontrabass. Apart from the clarinets tuned in C (C soprano clarinet and basset clarinet in C), all clarinets are transposing instruments. The instruments above the C clarinet sound higher than notated, such as the aforementioned A♭ clarinet a sixth higher, the longer instruments sound lower, such as the B♭ clarinet by one tone and the B♭ contrabass clarinet by two octaves and one tone. 10 clarinets.jpg|Clarinets in A♭, E♭ and B♭, basset clarinet in A, alto clarinet range to low E♭, basset horn, bass clarinet range to low E♭, bass clarinet range to low C, contra alto clarinet and contrabass clarinet Subkontrabassklarinetten Leblanc (1939) und Foag (2025).jpg|Subcontrabass clarinets by Leblanc 1939 and Foag 2025 == Performance practice ==

The modern orchestra frequently includes two clarinetists, each usually equipped with a B and an A clarinet, and clarinet parts commonly alternate between the instruments. The standard of using soprano clarinets in B and A has to do partly with the history of the instrument and partly with acoustics and aesthetics. Before about 1800, due to the lack of airtight pads, practical woodwinds could have only a few keys. The low (chalumeau) register of the clarinet spans a twelfth (an octave plus a perfect fifth) before overblowing, so the clarinet needs keys/holes to produce all nineteen notes in this range. This involves more keywork than on instruments that "overblow" at the octave—oboes, flutes, bassoons, and saxophones need only twelve notes before overblowing. Since clarinets with few keys cannot play chromatically, they are limited to playing in closely related keys. With the advent of airtight pads and improved key technology, more keys were added to woodwinds and the need for clarinets in multiple keys was reduced. The use of instruments in C, B, and A persisted, with each used as specified by the composer. The lower-pitched clarinets sound "mellower" (less bright), and the C clarinet—the highest and brightest sounding of these three—fell out of favor as the other two could cover its range and their sound was considered better. • Clarinet trio: clarinet, piano, and another instrument (for example, a string instrument). • Clarinet quartet: three B clarinets and bass clarinet; two B clarinets, alto clarinet, and bass; two B, an E alto clarinet, and a B bass clarinet; sometimes four B sopranos; and other possibilities such as the use of a basset horn, especially in European classical works. • Clarinet quintet: a clarinet plus a string quartet or, in more contemporary music, a configuration of five clarinets. • Wind quintet: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and horn. The E clarinet, B clarinet, alto clarinet, bass clarinet, and contra-alto/contrabass clarinet are commonly used in concert bands, which generally have multiple B clarinets; there are commonly three or even four B clarinet parts with two to three players per part. The clarinet is also used in military bands; author Eric Hoeprich suggests that "it was the role of the clarinet in the military band... that ultimately provided the key to its future popularity", since it was particularly suited to the ensemble. Clarinet choir contains many clarinets playing together, usually including several members of the clarinet family. This ensemble first emerged in 1927. The homogeneity of tone across the different members of the clarinet family produces an effect with some similarities to a human choir. Parts for non-clarinets, such as voice or French horn, are sometimes included in the repertoire. == Repertoire ==

Classical The clarinet evolved later than other orchestral woodwind instruments, leaving solo repertoire from the Classical period onward, but few works from the Baroque era. Examples of the first uses of clarinets include Vivaldi's 1716 oratorio Juditha triumphans with two C clarinets, and Handel's 1740 Ouverture for two clarinets and horn. In the 1750s, clarinets were introduced in the orchestra of La Pouplinière in Paris. Johann Stamitz composed the first known concerto for B clarinet for the principal clarinetist of this orchestra. Johann Melchior Molter wrote six clarinet concertos for clarinet in D, the first dated to around 1742. Clarinets appeared in the Mannheim orchestra under Stamitz and in other orchestras from 1758, but were not commonly used before the 19th century. Harmonie wind ensembles including clarinets were common from the mid-18th century. Classical composers of solo or duo concertos for this instrument included Karl Stamitz and František Xaver Pokorný. The first clarinet sonata was written in 1770 by the Neapolitan composer Gregorio Sciroli. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart first used the clarinet in 1771 in his Divertimento K. 113 and later in the Paris Symphony of 1778. From Idomeneo onward, the clarinet appeared in all his operas, as well as in his symphonies and piano concertos. His chamber works for clarinet include the Gran Partita, the Clarinet Quintet, and the Kegelstatt Trio. The latter two works were written for his friend, virtuoso Anton Stadler, as was his Clarinet Concerto. Beethoven's chamber music highlights the instrument, particularly in the Quintet Op. 16, the Septet Op. 20 and Trio Op. 38. While the Classical period often used the clarinet, the Romantic era incorporated it more as an integral part of the orchestra. The clarinet became a staple, with composers such as Schubert, Mendelssohn, Berlioz, Dvořák, Smetana, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and Rimsky-Korsakov writing prominent clarinet passages in their orchestral works. In Romantic opera orchestration, the clarinet frequently takes on expressive, lyrical roles. The clarinet section expanded to three or more players, with some performing on auxiliary instruments such as the bass clarinet. Certain operas, such as Strauss's Elektra, require up to eight players. Chamber music featuring the clarinet became increasingly diverse. The instrument appears in the works of Franz Schubert (Octet), Felix Mendelssohn (sonata with piano), Robert Schumann (Phantasiestücke for clarinet and piano, Märchenerzählungen with piano and viola), and Johannes Brahms (two sonatas, the Trio with cello and piano and the Clarinet Quintet for Clarinet in A and string quartet). Carl Maria von Weber wrote several major works for the clarinet, including the Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in F minor, the Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in E flat major, and the Grand Duo Concertant for clarinet and piano. However, from 1830 until 1900 "no major composer wrote a clarinet concerto, and the few concertos written for the instrument in this time period have not found a secure place in the repertoire". The clarinet is used frequently in 20th- and 21st-century classical music. It embodies the cat in Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev, and the symphonies of Shostakovich "provide a veritable compendium of writing for all members of the orchestral clarinet family; for him the instruments provided a toolkit for the expression of the deepest tragedy as well as the sharpest satire". Significant pieces for unaccompanied clarinet include Three Pieces (1919) by Igor Stravinsky and "L'abîme des oiseaux" from the Quatuor pour la fin du temps (1941) by Olivier Messiaen. Concertos with orchestral accompaniment from this period include those by Carl Nielsen and Aaron Copland. Sonatas were composed by Felix Draeseke, Max Reger, Arnold Bax, John Ireland, Francis Poulenc, Leonard Bernstein, and Paul Hindemith. Notable chamber works include Four Pieces by Alban Berg, Contrastes with violin and piano by Béla Bartók, ''The Soldier's Tale'' by Stravinsky, and the Suite for clarinet, violin and piano by Darius Milhaud. Jazz The clarinet was a central instrument in jazz, beginning with early jazz players in the 1910s. It remained a signature instrument of the genre through much of the big band era into the 1940s. One of the most recognizable clarinet excerpts is the virtuoso glissando that introduces the 1924 Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin. Swing performers such as Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw rose to prominence in the late 1930s. Beginning in the 1940s, the clarinet faded from its prominent position in jazz. By that time, an interest in Dixieland, a revival of traditional New Orleans jazz, had begun. Pete Fountain was one of the best known performers in this genre. The clarinet's place in the jazz ensemble was usurped by the saxophone, which projects a more powerful sound and uses a less complicated fingering system. The clarinet did not entirely disappear from jazz—prominent players since the 1950s include Stan Hasselgård, Jimmy Giuffre, Eric Dolphy (on bass clarinet), Perry Robinson, and John Carter. In the US, the prominent players on the instrument since the 1980s have included Eddie Daniels, Don Byron, Marty Ehrlich, Ken Peplowski, and others playing in both traditional and contemporary styles. Other genres The clarinet is uncommon, but not unheard of, in rock music. Jerry Martini played clarinet on Sly and the Family Stone's 1968 hit, "Dance to the Music". The Beatles included a trio of clarinets in "When I'm Sixty-Four" from their ''Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album. A clarinet is prominently featured in what a Billboard'' reviewer termed a "Benny Goodman-flavored clarinet solo" in "Breakfast in America", the title song from the Supertramp album of the same name. The clarinet has a significant role in vernacular music in many parts of the world. Clarinets feature prominently in klezmer music, which employs a distinctive style of playing. The popular Brazilian music style of choro uses the clarinet, as does Albanian saze and Greek kompania folk music, and Bulgarian wedding music. In Turkish folk music, the Albert system clarinet in G is often used, commonly called a "Turkish clarinet". == See also ==