Clarinet

About the Sound and Character

The clarinet boasts an extraordinarily wide range: down low it sounds thick, velvety, and ominous, while up high it sounds bright, light, and silvery. Its timbre is distinguished by an unusual smoothness of legato.

Structure and Features

A cylindrical tube made of precious wood (or plastic) featuring a mouthpiece equipped with a single reed. It has an elaborate key system for altering pitch.

Genres

• Classical academic music and symphony orchestra
• Klezmer music and Balkan folk
• Jazz (the swing era and clarinetists like Benny Goodman)