why is teh clarinet in b flat , rather than c?

Answer 1

Actually, it's more related to history.

Back in the day, the clarinet didn't have all the keys that it does now. That means it wasn't able to play as many accidentals.

So, to solve this problem, they just made a set of clarinets in different lengths to be able to play in different keys. Imagine you're blowing across a bottle of pop that you're drinking. Then you drink some, and when you blow again, you'll get a different pitch (a lower one). Same sort of idea applies here.

Longer tube=lower pitch. So we have the B-flat clarinet. Which, when fingering a 'C', we are actually playing a B-flat. The next clarinet is the A clarinet. So, when fingering a 'C', we are actually playing an A.

As you may know, the key of A major has 3 sharps, and the key of B-flat major has 2 flats. But the key of C major has no sharps or flats. So, since the clarinet wasn't capable of playing keys with lots of sharps or flats, this was the solution. Just lengthen and shorten the clarinet to change the pitches produced.

So an A clarinet would be used in orchestral settings that had keys with lots of sharps, and the B-flat in keys with lots of flats. All the fingerings are the same on all the clarinets, and this was to facilitate having to switch instruments all the time.

Now, there IS a C clarinet. This is smaller than the B-flat and it has a shriller and more piercing tone. It isn't used very often, usually if a piece is written for C clarinet, the player will simply transpose the music up a whole step on the B-flat.

Why is the B-flat the popular choice? Probably because it has a more pleasing tone than the C clarinet, and, again back to history, more music was written for B-flat clarinet.

I hope I covered all the bases with this little novel I wrote here. It's kind of a confusing concept to grasp.

Answer 2

I think it has to do with physics. The way it is built is to minimize pitch fluctuations on different notes. A trumpet is in B flat and requires you to move the slides to hit the correct pitch on certain notes. I am sure this is taken into consideration during construction to facilitate ease of playing and to get the right sound...