Development of the Clarinet From Antiquity to Today
Abstract
The clarinet developed in order to promote facility and intonation since its first appearance as a chalumeau. With the intent of improving music pedagogy and performance, the purpose of this research was to trace the development of the clarinet from antiquity to the twenty-first century. The particular problems of this study were to: (1) compare and contrast early ‘clarinets’ to today’s instruments; (2) identify what the working definition of a modern clarinet; and (3) trace the development/role of the key-work, mouth-piece, reed, and the material used in constructing the instrument.
Early clarinets did not have separate mouthpieces, nor conical bores, the reed did not detach, and early clarinets had no external key-work. A modern clarinet contains a removable mouthpiece, removable reed, external key-work, and a conical bore. The development of the key-work, mouth-piece, reed, and material used in constructing the instrument changed since its earliest invention. The clarinet developed new key structure, new reed uses, new barrel assortments, and new mouthpiece changes in order to make the clarinet as near-perfect as possible. Further implications may entail study the development of other instruments, or exploring the new uses for clarinet in modern music.
Development of the Clarinet From Antiquity to Today
The clarinet developed in order to promote facility and intonation since its first appearance as a chalumeau. With the intent of improving music pedagogy and performance, the purpose of this research was to trace the development of the clarinet from antiquity to the twenty-first century. The particular problems of this study were to: (1) compare and contrast early ‘clarinets’ to today’s instruments; (2) identify what the working definition of a modern clarinet; and (3) trace the development/role of the key-work, mouth-piece, reed, and the material used in constructing the instrument.
Early clarinets did not have separate mouthpieces, nor conical bores, the reed did not detach, and early clarinets had no external key-work. A modern clarinet contains a removable mouthpiece, removable reed, external key-work, and a conical bore. The development of the key-work, mouth-piece, reed, and material used in constructing the instrument changed since its earliest invention. The clarinet developed new key structure, new reed uses, new barrel assortments, and new mouthpiece changes in order to make the clarinet as near-perfect as possible. Further implications may entail study the development of other instruments, or exploring the new uses for clarinet in modern music.