The clarinetfamily - Henri Selmer Paris family.pdf · The clarinetfamily Sopranino clarinet in D...
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Although the Bœhm system clarinet in Bb is the most widely known member of the clarinet family, it also has a number of cousins that share the limelight with contemporary musicians today. Here we take a look at the clarinet family, from the highest to the lowest voice. Sopranino clarinet in Ab Now a curiosity in itself, this instrument is very rare and one of the most highly prized pieces among collectors. Its use, however, was largely limited to military bands. The clarinet family Sopranino clarinet in D Also not for the faint hearted, the sopranino clarinet in D nevertheless found favour with Molter in his concertos and with Richard Strauss in his symphonic poem Till Eulenspiegel. It has the advantage of being easier to play than its Eb counterpart. Clarinet in C Increasingly cast aside by experienced players in favour of the Bb, this instrument, which seduced both Franz Liszt in Faust (choral symphony) and Richard Strauss in The Knight of the Rose, is sometimes used as a beginner’s instrument. Sopranino clarinet in Eb Best remembered for its contribution to Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique, this instrument demands a strong technique as its high notes require special fingering. Its star quality? The perfect resonance of its high tones. Clarinet in Bb The most commonly used. Combining brilliance and eloquence with a full and radiant sound, it blends perfectly with both woodwind and string instruments. Virtuoso and faithful companion of soloists from the worlds of classical, jazz and contemporary music alike. Clarinet in A A favourite amongst Bb devotees who revel in its warm intimacy combined with an exquisite softness and beautifully deep tone. It is little wonder that this clarinet made its mark in the chamber music of both Mozart and Brahms. Basset clarinet in A Similar in design to the clarinet in A but with the added possibility of a low C, this instrument excels in Mozart’s Quintet for clarinet and strings, K 581. However, it remains very rare. Sopranino clarinet in G# Sopranino clarinet in Eb Sopranino clarinet in D Clarinet in C Clarinet in Bb Clarinet in A Bass clarinet in A two
Transcript of The clarinetfamily - Henri Selmer Paris family.pdf · The clarinetfamily Sopranino clarinet in D...
Although the Bœhm system clarinet in Bb is the most widelyknown member of the clarinet family, it also has a number ofcousins that share the limelight with contemporary musicians today.
Here we take a look at the clarinet family, from the highest to the lowest voice.
Sopraninoclarinet
in Ab
Now acuriosity in
itself, thisinstrument isvery rare and
one of themost highly
prized piecesamong
collectors. Itsuse, however,
was largelylimited to
militarybands.
The clarinet family
Sopraninoclarinet in D
Also not forthe faint
hearted, thesopranino
clarinet in Dneverthelessfound favour
with Molter inhis concertos
and withRichard
Strauss in hissymphonic
poem TillEulenspiegel. It
has theadvantage of
being easier toplay than its
Ebcounterpart.
Clarinet in C
Increasinglycast aside byexperienced
players infavour of the
Bb, thisinstrument,
whichseduced
both FranzLiszt in Faust
(choralsymphony)
and RichardStrauss in
The Knight ofthe Rose, issometimesused as abeginner’s
instrument.
Sopraninoclarinet
in Eb
Bestremembered
for itscontributionto Berlioz’sSymphonie
Fantastique,this
instrumentdemands a
strongtechnique asits high notes
requirespecial
fingering. Itsstar quality?The perfect
resonance ofits high tones.
Clarinet in Bb
The mostcommonly
used.Combining
brilliance andeloquence with
a full andradiant sound,
it blendsperfectly with
both woodwindand string
instruments.Virtuoso and
faithfulcompanion ofsoloists fromthe worlds ofclassical, jazz
andcontemporary
music alike.
Clarinet in A
A favouriteamongst Bb
devoteeswho revel in
its warmintimacy
combinedwith an
exquisitesoftness and
beautifullydeep tone. It
is littlewonder thatthis clarinet
made itsmark in the
chambermusic of both
Mozart andBrahms.
Bassetclarinet in A
Similar indesign to the
clarinet in Abut with the
addedpossibility ofa low C, this
instrumentexcels inMozart’s
Quintet forclarinet and
strings,K 581.
However, itremains very
rare. Sop
rani
no c
larin
et in
G#
Sop
rani
no c
larin
et in
Eb
Sop
rani
no c
larin
et in
D
Cla
rinet
in C
Cla
rinet
in B
b
Cla
rinet
in A
Bas
s cl
arin
et in
A
two
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thre
eBasset horn
in F
Who wouldn’tthink of Mozart
and his Requiemwhen
considering thisinstrument that
was also afavourite of
Strauss andMassenet?
Previously bentin the middle,
today’s bassethorn is straight
in form and hasa metal neck.
Alto clarinetin Eb
The alto clarinetin Eb differs fromother clarinets in
its curvedmetal neck andbell, much like
the basset horn.It is a muchsought after
instrument and isparticularly
appreciated inchamber music.
Bass clarinetin Bb
This clarinet hasa curved neck
and a larger bell,while its
authoritative bassnotes combine
marvellously withthe wood and
string sections ofjazz and
contemporarymusic alike.
There are twobass models:
one going downto low Eb and
the other tolow C.
Contraltoclarinet in Eb
This clarinetdraws on all the
charms of itssuperbly smooth,
deep register,which gives it
exceptionalrange.
Unfortunately,however, it is all
too rarely used ina symphony
orchestra.
Contrabassclarinet in Bb
The shape of thisinstrument is what
sets it apart fromthe rest: folded back
on itself, it is 2.31metres long. Made
from metal andwood, it extends to
a low Bb bassoctave. Composers
are turning to itmore and more.B
asse
t hor
n in
F
Alto
cla
rinet
in E
b
Bas
s cl
arin
et in
Bb
Con
tralto
cla
rinet
in E
b
Con
traba
ss c
larin
et in
Bb
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