Different Kinds of Clarinet for Composing music?

Question

I am composing a piece of music that is featuring the Clarinet. I read an article about it, and the article said there were many differnet kinds of clarinet.

My question is, do the different types of Clarinet exist simply for the purpose of playing specific scales and registers, or are there actually different in sound & timbre? And when I'm composing for the Clarinet, will I have to specify WHICH Clarinet I'm writing the music for, or will the performing artist choose the type of Clarinet used based on his/her understanding of the piece?

Thanks a lot.

Answer 1

One guy has got things moving but doesn't give the whole story. These are the clarinets you should know about - even if you don't use them:

Bb clarinet - written a tone higher than concert pitch (the most common)
A clarinet - written a minor third higher (used in tandem with the Bb - players will swap to this (as indicated in the music) and it facilitates playing in sharp keys)
Eb clarinet - written a minor third lower (not ONLY used for solos but has a very distinctive sound - and when playing high loudly can cut through the sound of a full symphony orchestra - listen to the final 'danse generale' from Ravel's 'Daphnis and Chloe')
Bass clarinet - written a major ninth higher (treble clef) or a tone higher (bass clef) (an octave below the ordinary clarinet and nowadays has an extension to low written C)

More rare instruments:
C and D clarinets (old instruments and now rare - usually replaced by the Bb and Eb instruments respectively)
Eb alto clarinet - written a major sixth higher (usually only seen in American military bands)
Basset horn - written a fifth higher (pitched in F - used by Mozart and Richard Strauss among others - and in a lot of flim music)
Contrabass clarinet - written a major ninth higher in bass clef (a wonderful organ-like sonority to this monster of an instrument, an octave below the bass clarinet)
There is also a tiny Ab clarinet but I know of only 2 pieces that have ever used it - and you won't find a clarinettist who'll have one or will want to play it.

Because of their distinctive tone colours and ranges, it is the composer's job to specify which instruments he/she wants.

Answer 2

Usually the composer indicates which clarinet the piece is to be played on. Bflat clarinet is the standard clarinet that is found in regular bands and orchestras. The Bass clarinet is also in Bb but it sounds a ninth lower than where it is written. The Eb clarinet is the next most common clarinet and is usually only used as a solo instrument (check out Aaron Copland's "El Salon Mexico" for a fantastic Eb clarinet solo). There are other clarinets but these are by far the 3 most common.

The most important thing to know when writing for Bb clarinet is how the instrument is transposed. For example if you hand a Bb clarinet player a piece of music with a G major scale in it the notes that will actually come out will be an F major scale. If you hand a Bass clarinet player the same piece of music it will come out as an F major scale an octave below the music written.

Answer 3

That answer is all true. In addition:

If writing serious music, you can write for clarinet in B flat or clarinet in A. Most semi-pro or pro players will have, or be able to access, both. Use a B flat clarinet for pieces in a flat key (in concert pitch), and the A clarinet for pieces in a sharp key.

The reason is that, when the music is transposed for the clarinet, the B flat clarinet is in the key with 2 flats fewer than the key you're writing in, and the A clarinet will subtract 3 sharps from the key you're in. If in C major, just use the B flat clarinet.

Based on this, you'd think the E flat clarinet would also be good for music with many flats, but it's usually used for coloristic reasons. It has a distinctive, harsh tone that cuts through anything.

The last part of your question indicates that you're not sure what to do with the actual clarinet part. It should be written out in its transposed key (one tone up for the B flat, a minor third up for the A). In the score, you will probably want it in concert pitch, but if calling out notes to a clarinetist, specify that you want to hear "concert D" for example, so they know you're talking about their E (or F, depending on the clarinet).

Answer 4

Just a note: the D-clarinet is used in Til Eulenspeigel by Richard STrauss, and can be heard at the end as Til's soul rises to 'heaven'. Really not a very pretty instrument, but is used here beautifully.

Answer 5

Thank you for asking that question. I had no idea it was all so complicated. Fancy being a composer ?