MOI CLARINET PAGE

The CLARINET is a single reed woodwind instrument. It has a cylindrical tube about 66cm long with a mouthpiece at one end and a bell at the other. It consists of 5 main parts, namely (from top to bottom) the mouthpiece, the barrel, the upper body, the lower body and the bell. The single reed is a very thin piece of cane that is fixed over the oblong hole cut in the wedge-shaped mouthpiece. The player places the reed and the mouthpiece into his mouth and blows between the two. This makes the reed vibrates and in turn causes the air column to vibrate, thereby producing a sound. Different notes are obtained by a system of keys.

The clarinet is a transposing instrument and is commonly found in B flat and in A. In military bands, a smaller E flat one is used. Being a very expressive instrument, it takes the violin parts in band music. The lowest octave, from bottom E, is called the Chalumeau. It has a reedy tone that is hollow, yet rich, and at times sounds quite menacing. The middle part of the range is creamy. The upper register sounds quite shrill. This part is suitable for playing playful solos. Clarinets are very versatile and can play melodies, as well as, rhythmic accompaniment. Clarinets usually do brilliant runs beneath the overall melody of the piece. Examples of pieces are Symphonic Overture, Alvamar Overture and Utopia.

There are many members in the clarinet family. The more common ones are the B flat Bass Clarinet, the E flat Alto Clarinet. Below is a list of the members in the Clarinet Family.

Clarinet Family
1. E flat Clarinet. It sounds a minor 3rd lower than written. Mainly used in military bands and occasionally in orchestras.
2. Clarinet in D. It sounds a major 2nd lower than written. The tone is hard and rather shrill, hence it's rarely used.
2. Clarinet in C. It is the only non-transposing member in the clarinet family. However it has an inferior tone, hence it's also rarely used.
3. Clarinet in B flat.
4. Clarinet in A.
5. Basset Horn. It is an alto or tenor clarinet in F, sounding a perfect 5th lower than written. It got its name from the inventor whose name is "Horn".
6. Alto Clarinet in E flat. It sounds a major 6th lower than written.
7. Bass Clarinet in B flat. It sounds a major 2nd lower than written.
8. Contra Bass Clarinet in B flat. It is pitched an octave below the Bass Clarinet.

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