What Is a Clarinet Choir?

A clarinet choir is a musical ensemble in which various clarinet family instruments are played together. Clarinet choirs have formed in a variety of locations and have a wide range of sizes and repertoires. A clarinet choir’s sound is very rich, and it’s often been compared to the sound of a concert organ. The choir can have any number of members, ranging from 10 to 40 or more, and is usually led by a conductor. In a choir, the most common clarinet is a B-flat clarinet, which is accompanied by sopranino, bass, and contra bass clarinets.

The clarinet family’s wide range of instruments allows for the creation of a clarinet choir. The E-flat sopranino clarinet, also known as the baby clarinet, is a small clarinet. The bassette horn in F is a large instrument with a much lower sound at the other end of the musical register. The alto clarinet in E-flat is an octave lower and larger than the baby clarinet, and it’s commonly used with a strap to keep it in place. The bass clarinet in B-flat is a large, heavy clarinet that requires a floor stand, and the contra bass clarinet in B-flat is an octave lower.

The clarinet in B-flat, which is the most common type of clarinet in music ensembles and orchestras, is in the middle of the range. This clarinet is extremely versatile, with a four-octave range that allows it to be used in a variety of musical styles, from classical to jazz. The clarinet in A is another instrument in the middle range that can be found in some symphony orchestras.

Simeon Bellison founded a clarinet ensemble of 75 players in New York in 1927, and clarinet choirs became popular in the 1950s. As composers have come to appreciate the possibilities of clarinet choirs, the repertoire for these choirs has grown. There are even pieces written specifically for a clarinet choir of a specific size or composition. Many clarinet choirs perform arrangements of music written for orchestras or other instrument combinations. Some clarinet choirs are made up of professional musicians, while others welcome players of all levels.