The word clarinet may have entered the English language via the French clarinette (the feminine diminutive of Old French clarin), or from Provençal clarin ("oboe"). It is ultimately from the Latin root clarus ("clear"). The word … See more

The clarinet's cylindrical bore is the main reason for its distinctive timbre, which varies between the three main registers (the chalumeau, clarion, and altissimo). The A and B♭ clarinets have nearly the same bore and nearly identical tonal quality, although the … See more

Use of multiple clarinets
The modern orchestral standard of using soprano clarinets in B♭ and A has to do partly with the history of the instrument and partly with acoustics, aesthetics, and economics. Before about 1800, due to the lack of airtight pads, … See more

• Bessaraboff, Nicholas (1941). Ancient European Musical Instruments. Harvard University Press.
• Brymer, Jack (1976). Clarinet. Yehudi … See more

Materials
Clarinet bodies have been made from a variety of materials including wood, plastic, hard rubber or Ebonite, metal, and ivory. The vast majority of … See more

The clarinet has its roots in the early single-reed instruments used in Ancient Greece and Ancient Egypt. The modern clarinet developed from a Baroque instrument called the chalumeau. This instrument was similar to a recorder, but with a See more

• List of clarinet concerti
• List of clarinetists
• List of clarinet makers See more