Contra-alto clarinet

Contra-Alto clarinet
Buffet Crampon Contra-alto clarinet
Woodwind instrument
Classification
Hornbostel–Sachs classification
(Single-reeded aerophone with keys)
Playing range
Written and sounding ranges of the contra-alto clarinet.

The sounding range is G1 to B♭4.
Related instruments
Contra-alto clarinet by Selmer made of rosewood, with imposing size of the bell.
Maldura's contralto clarinet, c. 1880, known as Clarone grande from the side, and a newer instrument from the front.
Clarinets "Paperclip" by Georges Leblanc Paris as contra-alto and as contrabass clarinet
A 352 Leblanc contra-alto clarinet (left) compared to a 342 Leblanc contrabass clarinet.
Buffet Crampon contra-alto clarinet compared to a Selmer contrabass clarinet

The contra-alto clarinet, E♭ contrabass clarinet, is a large clarinet pitched a perfect fifth below the B♭ bass clarinet. It is a transposing instrument in E♭ sounding an octave and a major sixth below its written pitch, between the bass clarinet and the B♭ contrabass clarinet.

The contra-alto clarinet is often used in clarinet choirs[1] and ensembles of clarinets and saxophones. It may also be present in a wind band. The repertoire for contra-alto clarinet in the symphony orchestra is limited. In ensembles it is usually used in unison with the other woodwind instruments, such as (bassoon, bass clarinet and contrabass clarinet), or it plays the lower octave in addition. [citation needed]

  1. ^ Weerts, Richard K. (1964). "The Clarinet Choir". Journal of Research in Music Education. 12 (3): 227–230. doi:10.2307/3343790. JSTOR 3343790. S2CID 144443887. Retrieved 2 October 2021.