Klarinet Archive - Posting 000576.txt from 1995/04

From: Tom Izzo <tji@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Types of clarinets?!
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 1995 01:42:06 -0400

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On Fri, 28 Apr 1995, Tom Ascher wrote:

> Is there any reference that shows pictures, descriptions of all the types
> of Boem type clarinets, preferably including samples of range and sound?
> (Maybe a CD rom?). Going through the catalogs, I find mention of:
> Soprano Bb, A, C, D. Also an Eb which I assume is higher than soprano,
> is there also a sopranino? Also an Eb alto, a basset clarinet, a basset
> horn, a contra alto, a bass and contra bass. Have I left any out?
>
Yes, Tom, you've left some out. The Eb is the Sopranino most of us know,
but there are occasionally found some F Sopraninos, though now, I think,
mostly extinct. The Bassett Horn is the Alto Clarinet pitched in F
favored in Mozart works. There are Bb, C, & A Basses, Eb & Bb
Contrabasses, though, today the Eb is generally called the Contra Alto,
and my favorite is the Piccolo Clarinet in high Ab. Pick up a Buffet
catalogue, they usually have the whole family pictured.
And there was actually once a EEb Double Contra made for the Recording of
the Mission Impossible Music (TV show).

Tom Izzo
tji@-----.edu