INSTRUMENTS IN THE ORCHESTRA: (6) The Clarinet
Pon sixth of a series of short articles on the instruments of the National Orchestra, written to help interested listeners towards a more informed apfreciation of orchestral music and a better understanding of the resources at the command of the conductor, _
HE clarinet is descended from the chalumeau, a medieval instrument based. on the same principle of a single reed, but it is probable that a simpler form was known to the ancient Greeks and Egyptians. The conversion of the chalumeau to the clarinet took place towards the end of the 17th Century, since when numerous modifications have been made, similar to those made to the flute. The Boehm system of fingering (the general principle of which
was described in last week’s
article in this series) was applied to the clarinet in 1842, although some players to-day still favour_other systems. The clarinet has a cylindrical. body, with a mouthpiece at one end to which is attached a single reed, held in place by a metal clamp. The stream of air from the player’s mouth sets the reed vibrating against an air. slot, causing movement in the column of air in the body of the instrument. The orchestral clarinettist uses two instruments, the pitch of one being B flat and of the
other A. ihey are both the same size and shape and the technique of playing and fingering is the same in each. The compass of the clarinet is just over three octaves. The lower notes are rich and mellow, and the highest are penetrating; and clear-cut. In agility the clarinet is the equal of the violin, and a number of effects can be produced upon it. The clarinet appears to have found a place in the orchestra during the early 18th Century. J. C. Bach and Rameau wrote music for it, but Mozart, who favoured the instrument highly, was the first really to appreciate its capabilities, and he gave it important work to do in orchestral. and chamber compositions, and also wrote a concerto for it. The National Orchestra has three clarinettists, each of whom has a B Flat and an A clarinet.
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 17, Issue 425, 15 August 1947, Page 16
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361INSTRUMENTS IN THE ORCHESTRA: (6) The Clarinet New Zealand Listener, Volume 17, Issue 425, 15 August 1947, Page 16
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