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alto clarinet

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  • Justen Skiles
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Meaning of Alto Clarinet in Music

The alto clarinet is a musical instrument that belongs to the woodwind family. It is a member of the clarinet family and is pitched in the key of E♭. The alto clarinet is larger than the standard B♭ clarinet and has a lower range. It is often used in concert bands and orchestras to provide a rich and mellow tone in the lower register. The alto clarinet is typically played by advanced clarinetists who have mastered the technique and control required to play this instrument.

Solo Repertoire for Alto ClarinetThe solo repertoire for the alto clarinet is quite extensive. There are many compositions specifically written for this instrument, showcasing its unique characteristics and capabilities. These compositions can range from classical to contemporary genres. Solo pieces for the alto clarinet can be found in various music collections and publications.

Relationship to Other ClarinetsThe alto clarinet is a fifth lower in pitch than the B♭ clarinet, which is already considered an "alto" instrument. This means that the alto clarinet has a lower range than the B♭ clarinet. Additionally, there is even a contra-alto clarinet, which is an octave lower than the alto clarinet and has a range from B0 to D4.

ConclusionThe alto clarinet is a unique instrument in the clarinet family, known for its lower range and mellow tone. It is often used in concert bands and orchestras, and there is a significant repertoire of solo music written specifically for the alto clarinet.

CLASSIFICATION: aerophone, wind instrument, woodwind instrument

HISTORY: Woodwind instrument of the clarinet family that plays in the alto range. 

SOUND PROPERTIES: The alto clarinet has a dark sound with a reedy quality. It is not as dark as the lower pitched clarinets, but has a much heavier sound than the higher pitched clarinets in A flat, B flat and E flat (soprano ). There are three distinct registers  on the alto clarinet, with the chalumeau being the lowest and clarino being the highest. The alto clarinet has a strong sound in the lower end of the chalumeau register and in the clarino register. It is most often used in concert bands and clarinet choirs  and is scored as the tenor voice in these ensembles. 

RANGE: The chart below shows the range of the alto clarinet. It is a transposing instrument in the key of E flat, and sounds a major 6th lower than the written pitch. Thus, the lowest written note (E flat), when performed, actually produces the pitch G. Another way to think of it is that performing a written C on the instrument  will produce the pitch of E flat.

In addition, you can familiarize yourself with the terms:

Popular questions related to alto clarinet

Alto clarinet - Pitched a perfect fifth (or, rarely, a perfect fourth) lower than the B♭ soprano clarinet. E♭ alto clarinet - Most common type. Range usually down to low E♭ (written). Referred to as the tenor in Commonwealth countries.

a tube-shaped musical instrument that is played by blowing through a single reed (= thin piece of wood) and pressing keys on its front to produce notes, or this type of instrument generally; a woodwind.

The alto clarinet is part of the family of clarinets in the clarinet choir and full modern concert band. In this clarinet family the instruments alternate in the keys of Eb and Bb and include the Eb soprano, Bb soprano, Eb alto, Bb bass, Eb contra-‐Alto, and Bb contra-‐bass clarinets.

The Eb Alto Clarinet, at 43 inches long, is said to be the modern form of the bassett horn. They first appeared around 1770.

The term alto is also used for musical instruments having a more or less comparable range - e.g., alto saxophone, alto clarinet, alto flute. The meaning of alto in French is “tenor violin” or “tenor saxhorn” - a pitfall for translators; contralte in French means the English “alto.”

noun. : a large flute pitched a fourth lower than the ordinary flute. called also bass flute.

a woodwind instrument in the form of a cylindrical tube with a single reed attached to its mouthpiece.

A clarinet is a musical instrument of the woodwind family in the shape of a pipe. You play the clarinet by blowing into it and covering and uncovering the holes with your fingers.

Nowadays, the word “alto” is a general term used to describe a lower female voice rather than a specific vocal category. Chorus music usually calls for an “alto” part for voices with a strong middle and lower register, but there's no real separate alto voice type in Western music.

In Western Europe, it is common to find clarinet cases holding both the A and Bb Clarinet. However, it is uncommon in other parts of the world. An even more uncommon type of clarinet, the Alto Clarinet is pitched half-way between the Bb Clarinet and the Bass Clarinet.

11 types There are 11 types of clarinet: Ab clarinet, Eb soprano clarinet, Bb soprano, A harmony, alto clarinet, Basset horn, bass clarinet, D clarinet, contra-alto, and contrabass. The most common is the Bb clarinet. Each type comes with a different range and tuning, and they all suit a variety of playing environments.

Nowadays, the word “alto” is a general term used to describe a lower female voice rather than a specific vocal category. Chorus music usually calls for an “alto” part for voices with a strong middle and lower register, but there's no real separate alto voice type in Western music.

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