Soprano Clarinets
The next largest class of the family is the soprano clarinets, including, as mentioned earlier, the ubiquitous B ♭ clarinet. Soprano clarinets embody the classic rich, melodious tones people typically associate with this most prolific member of the woodwind family.
The E ♭ clarinet is sometimes called the “baby clarinet” and is the smallest of the soprano clarinets. An E ♭ clarinet is approximately two-thirds the size of a standard B ♭. It is sometimes considered a “starter” clarinet due its 17-inch length, approximately two-thirds the length of the B ♭standard, and is sometimes taught to children who learn the clarinet at a young age, before their fingers and lungs are developed enough for the B ♭. The E ♭ clarinet has a bright tone and can replace trumpets in many orchestral pieces.
The second largest of the soprano branch of the clarinet family is the D clarinet, which has fallen out of mainstream use, but which was very popular in the 1700’s. Like the E ♭clarinet, the D clarinet has a shrill pitch. Composers who have written for the D clarinet include Strauss, Handel, and Schoenberg. The use of the D clarinet has been mostly restricted to classical music and military marches.
The next larger is the C clarinet, which is a few inches shorter than the B ♭ clarinet. The pitch of the C clarinet matches that of pianos, violins, and trumpets, so clarinetists can play music written for other instruments without transposing it to a different key. The C clarinet is used in jazz ensembles and other small groups.
The A clarinet is slightly larger than the B ♭ clarinet, and has a common presence in symphonic orchestras. It sounds remarkably like the B ♭clarinet, but its lower pitch gives it a more cavernous sound.
The low G clarinet is also known as the Turkish clarinet. It is the largest of the soprano clarinets, with the most profound tone. The G clarinet has a distinctive Mediterranean flavor and is often used in Middle Eastern music. The low G clarinet is keyed using the Albert system or the Ohler system, both of which, unlike the traditional Boehm system make halftones and quartertones easier to finger.
Basset Clarinets
Basset clarinets are longer than soprano clarinets and pay deeper notes. The addition of extra keys allows basset clarinets to play notes even lower than the standard clarinet. Bassett clarinets can play a low C while standard B ♭ clarinets can only go as low as E or E ♭.
The Basset clarinet in A is the most common of this rarefied branch of the clarinet family. Anton Stadler, a friend of Mozart, used this clarinet and its deep, open sound inspired Mozart to write clarinet music. Currently, the instrument is most well known as the instrument of choice for Theo Jörgensmann, who plays it in his free-jazz compositions.
Versions of the basset clarinet are also available in C, B ♭, and G.
Basset Horn
Basset horns are confusing because of their name. The basset horn is not a horn, but a clarinet. Bassett horns are in the key of F. The basset horn is similar to basset clarinet in that its range extends to lower C (written). Basset horns feature a curved neck and another curve at the base, so the bell points upright instead of toward the ground.
Basset horns are divided by bore sizes, as opposed to different keys. There are three types of basset horns, all of which possess a rich and deep sound. The three types of basset horns are the small bore, medium bore, and large bore basset horn.
