Bass Clarinets
Bass clarinets produce the richest sound of any the woodwind instrument, and are an incredibly diverse instrument. Ignored, or at least under-represented for many years, the bass clarinet is a B ♭ instrument that performs exactly one octave lower than the standard B ♭ soprano clarinet.
The Bass Clarinet: an Introduction
Anyone who can play a standard clarinet can pick up a bass clarinet and start playing with some minor adjustments. Bass clarinets have the same fingerings as standard clarinets. They are essentially the same instrument, only the bass clarinet is longer. At its inception, the bass clarinet had to be significantly lengthened to play a full octave lower than the standard B clarinet. The base clarinet is 54 ¼ inches long, while a standard clarinet measures only 23.6 inches.
Unlike regular clarinets, the right thumb alone cannot support a bass clarinet, so the player either supports the instrument with a neck strap, an adjustable ground peg, or both. Due the difference in length, it takes more breath to sound the bass clarinet, a feat most players can accomplish with little difficulty after some practice.
Since the bass clarinet is a larger instrument, the mouthpiece and the reed are larger too. Some players use a tenor saxophone reed on the bass clarinet, but most bass clarinetists buy specially designed bass clarinet reeds.
The Sound of the Bass Clarinet
In many ways, the timbre of the bass clarinet is superior to that of the standard clarinet, particularly in the lower register, where the notes are thick, dense, and well rounded. The bass clarinet can play pieces written for the soprano clarinet, since it also has a range exceeding four octaves.
Many people would say that the bass clarinet is superior to the standard clarinet in every way except one; the bass clarinet is even less forgiving than the standard, and can squeak badly with holes that are improperly covered by either fingering or poorly-fitted keypads. This means maintenance makes even more of a difference on the bass clarinet than on other members of the clarinet family.
History of the Bass Clarinet
While the clarinet was developed in the 1690’s, the bass clarinet did not come along until 1750 or so. Early bass clarinets looked markedly different than they do today. With their light brown wooden paperclip shapes, they looked more like bassoons. In 1838, Adolphe Sax un-raveled the clarinet body, and it became the straight instrument we know it as today. Despite the fact that the bass clarinet has been around for a while, the first solo recital was not performed on it until 1955, when Josef Horák marked history by being the first professional player to dedicate an entire recital to the instrument.
Today’s Bass Clarinet
The popularity of the bass clarinet in today’s orchestras is growing. More and more classical music is being written for the mellowest of mellow instruments. The bass clarinet has been a prominent part of jazz music since 1926, when Omer Simeon, playing for Jelly Roll Morton’s group, recorded “Sometime Sweetheart.” The bass clarinet has been used in rock music as well; notably in the memorable melodic line of “When I’m Sixty-Four” by The Beatles.
If the past 50 years has been an indication, the bass clarinet will continue to gain a loyal fan bass. Orchestras and smaller groups continue to embrace the magnificent instrument along with its subterranean depths.
