The origin of the clarinet is somewhat obscure. Its most direct ancestor is the torch of the Middle Ages, instrument overcame a small tube which is fixed a beating reed. The clarinet as such would have been created for the first time in Nuremberg in 1690 by a luthier named Jean-Christophe Denner.

Early clarinets did not possess at the outset that very few keys, which limited technical possibilities and above required the possession of several clarinets, clarinet almost a dial tone !

• The clarinet in Ab: it is so small that the fingers are touching and the reed we split lip. She was formerly employed in the Military Music in Italy (Bandas). It is very rare and virtually unused today although some comtemporary composer is given to honor ("Space deployed" by Gilbert AMY). His tone is strident and shrill.

• The small clarinet in Eb, it is at the fourth above the clarinet in Bb, but the treble is more difficult to control than on the Bb. Some special fingerings sometimes help them out with an accuracy less satisfying but direct attack at the right height, wide, round and are often instrumental prowess. His interest lies rather in its tone in its range. It is very suitable passages sarcastic, crackers, and a little vulgar ("Till Eulenspiegel" by Richard Strauss ), but also with melancholy passages in the midrange and the bass instrument.

• The small clarinet in D: composers like Richard Strauss or Stravinsky's use but most of the time these musicians prefer to play orchestral excerpts in Eb transposing. She used, in fact, little more than the Molter concertos and this is perhaps a bit unfortunate because the sound is softer than the MiIb (as well as the clarinet in A is darker than the Bb),.

• The clarinet in UT: also fell in dessuétude although again many works are written for this instrument as the operas of Rossini . The sound is somewhat aggressive, and prefer to transpose clarinet keeping the Bb clarinet.

• Clarinets in Bb: it is the most used instrument is the clarinet and clarinet with which it begins.

• Clarinets in A: There is a half-tone difference with her sister Bb but the sound changes. The LA is préférerable if you want something dark, sweet, interior. The Bb is préférerable if you want something shiny, direct, penetrating. That's why LA is much used in chamber music by Mozart, Brahms, Schumann but forsaken the Bb in the concertos of WEBER, SPOHR etc. ...
  The clarinet in LA need more air, more pressure than the Bb, and gives a little impression of inertia in the attacks and nuances. It is a great way to develop his sound for the Bb. It should be noted that there is a clarinet concerto in A special MOZART called basset clarinet, and down to serious DO (4 notes in the most severe). The original version of the Mozart concerto included some notes below the low E, (C # or the real), current limit of the clarinet in LA now).

• The alto clarinet in F: old Basset Horn. At the fourth below clarinet in Bb, its sound is much more introvert. Its curved shape at the flag could be confused with a saxophone. It is mainly used in works of Mozart, and especially in his Requiem, which begins with a solo two basset horns.

• The alto clarinet in Eb: we find this instrument in some of Harmony Music (Holland for example) and in sets of clarinets.

• The bass clarinet in Bb: it sounds an octave below the Bb clarinet. His grave is remarkable, both dark and cavernous, somewhat resembling certain register soft organ. Its sharp focus much less, can express the point of violence. The shrill about it is much used in comtemporary music for its effect sub-ethereal, unearthly (Michel Portal) ... The multiphonics, flatterzunge, slap and other effects abound in his comtemporary literature.
  Design feature: additional keys in the bass, provide access to Eb, and even on some model to D, C and C #.

• The bass clarinet alto Eb: it sounds a fifth below the bass clarinet. The low register is a deep sound extraordinary, cavernous, distant. It is mainly used as a set of clarinets.

• The contrabass clarinet in Bb: it sounds an octave below the bass clarinet. His bass pedals resemble the sounds of the organ but with less power. I saw a metal, but it is also wood. The contrabass clarinet is mainly used in chamber music. It is mainly used in all clarinets, and he makes a fantastic sound foundation.