What part would a c clarinet hold in a band or symphony? Would it just play along with the Bb clarinets?

Answer 1

re: above - there is such an instrument and it is very common in orchestral clarinet sections.

In a concert band, there would not likely be a C clarinet part. It would be a reasonable substitute for the oboe however. A skilled clarinetist might use a C clarinet transposing from a Bb clarinet part in order to make the key signature easier to manage.

Were I faced with the need to seat a clarinet player in band who only had a C instrument to play - it would be on the oboe part. The flute parts will be too high about 50% of the time.

In the orchestra, the C clarinet is relatively common. It's used as above to simplify key signatures and also as a solo instrument with a unique brighter timbre than the Bb or A sopranos. In the orchestral clarinet section, all players are expected to have the instrument specified in the music. This is often a Bb or A soprano but occasionally a C. There is no special "seat" for a C soprano player.

In jazz (you didn't ask but it's interesting); the C clarinet is popular among doublers and club players for no reason other than it is in C and doesn't require transposition of fake sheets. Whatever key the piano and bass are in, the C clarinet is too.

Answer 2

Unless there was a C Clarinet part, it would have to play some part written in C. It could play the oboe part (oboe is a C instrument), or it could play the Bb Clarinet part, but the Bb Clarinet part would have to be transposed down a major second to make it come out in the correct key on a C Clarinet.

Answer 3

If there was such an instrument, it would be more likely for it to play with the flutes, since they too, would be "C" instruments. A "C" clarinet would clash harmonically with the B flat clarinets, because, obviously they would be in different keys.