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Wikipedia article

Author: karlbonner82
Date: 2010-05-18 08:18

I'm actually very impressed with the article on "Clarinet" and the several related articles on specific topics. Usually Wikipedia gets a lot of (largely undeserved) ridicule, but here it's extremely informative.

They even explain how the different clarinet keys came about. And several of you were right about one thing: the practice of using both A and Bb instruments in the orchestra dates from a time when playing in oblique keys was much harder than it is today. It actually makes a lot of sense now: flutes and oboes always use a C instrument no matter how hard the key. Clarinet may be the one instrument where orchestral repertoire is more accommodating than symphonic-band repertoire, because of the Bb/A combo. (This, of course, assumes that the symphonic band and orchestra utilize an equally wide range of keys - an assumption that might not be correct even after adjusting for proficiency levels.)

Another topic of interest are the labels for the different sizes (soprano, alto, etc.). The Wiki article largely classifies the high D and Eb as sopranos, rather than just the C, Bb and A. And I've long felt that the clarinet's chalumeau register goes so low that it doesn't make sense to call the standard Bb size a "soprano;" in fact they frequently take on alto and tenor roles within orchestras, wind quintets and clarinet quartets. My preferred term would be "treble clarinet," but I'm not going to count on my idea gaining any traction.

Perhaps it would be fair to call the eefer and high D "high sopranos" and the Bb and A, "low sopranos." I'll let you argue over whether the C should be in the high or low category!

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