Composing for Bb Clarinet

OK, my 8 years of clarinet playing is my background for writing this simple guide to composing for the clarinet. If you're playing an instrument that hasn't been covered yet (for now, all instruments except the clarinet :-P), you can post a similar guide. I would love to have such simple "reports" to use when composing!

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Composing for Bb Clarinet
Range*


Range (Concert Pitch)*

*The highest playable note is discussable, but officially, C is considered the highest note playable.

Sound
The clarinet has a warm, wooden sound. In its lowest register (known as the ’chalumeau’ register, from middle C and down), it sounds especially warm. From middle C up to around G 11/2 octave above middle C, it sounds brighter (colder?) than in its lowest register. From C two octaves above middle C and upwards, it screams.

Agility
The clarinet has a very advanced key system, which makes it very agile. A good clarinettist should be able to play sixteenth notes in a tempo of 160-200 beats pr. minute:

However, the highest register (from C two octaves above middle C and above) is very hard to play fast, because of complex fingerings.

Key signatures
The Bb Clarinet is very often required to play in A major (concert pitch), which equals B major, with 5 tones sharpened. Due to the complex key system of the clarinet, playing sharp or flat tones is simple. Any clarinettist playing in an orchestra should be able to play in B major. If writing a complex movement for the clarinet, a switch to an A clarinet might be preferable. Always remember to provide some time for switching clarinets. But a transposing part featuring Bb clarinet only, in addition to the A and Bb part, will make all clarinettists cheer.

Air usage
A clarinet takes about as much air to play as it takes for a person to sing. Don’t write coherent clarinet parts for more than half a minute.

Tuning
Unlike oboes, clarinets’ tuning is very stable. Doubling more clarinets is very possible without risking an atonal catastrophe of out-of-tune instruments.

excelent, how ever, the range can be discussed. I've never seen a piece with a C in and I can't play one either, I belive somewhere around A is the highest thing you can reach in a piece, on my level anyway (5 years, soon 6). And it is possible to get a clarinet up higher then C, we have a stundent who have played 4 years who got it up to E, that's extreme though (he is the best player I know, he's just, arh he is so damned good )
Other then that, greta work, I'd love to see this for more instruments (preferably those I can't play )

Perhaps we should make this a section on the site somewhere, tips when composing for these instruments, what do you think?

Just moved this topic to the Performance forum. Looks some like brilliant information there, thanks very much Eirik.

Very helpful. Thanks for sharing that!

Neat! You should consider submitting this as an article.

If I were a clarinettist I would rather switch instruments to play a passage in (concert) A major. Given the choice between reading five sharps and zero, I'd choose zero.

Maybe you should mention something about the break, too.

For easy passages though, using B major is simpler, as the musician doesn't need to keep two clarinets warm during the concert. Also, the switch itself means some tumbling around with the instruments (=noise, =bad, bad, bad).
I have no problems playing in B major, the key system is so developed. The fact that I don't own an A clarinet also pretty much forces me to play B major when we're playing A major in the orchestra. :-P

For easy passages though, using B major is simpler, as the musician doesn't need to keep two clarinets warm during the concert. Also, the switch itself means some tumbling around with the instruments (=noise, =bad, bad, bad).
I have no problems playing in B major, the key system is so developed. The fact that I don't own an A clarinet also pretty much forces me to play B major when we're playing A major in the orchestra. :-P

Yeah, i got so used to adding to sharps to everything that i no longer even care. Different clarinets have a different color, and the Bb one is the most standard one, probably because it sounds the best. I could have bought a C clarinet and never have anytrouble with transposition again, but then again, i picked the Bb one because it's the standard one.

By the way Eirik, what clarinet do you own?

*Firing up primary and secondary bragging engine*
Model? It's a Buffet.
Buffet RC.
Buffet RC Prestige.
With left hand Eb key.
It costed $4000.

Well, that' just about it. Too bad I'm playing the oboe, the clarinet playing ruins the oboe playing and vice versa.

*Firing up primary and secondary bragging engine*
Model? It's a Buffet.
Buffet RC.
Buffet RC Prestige.
With left hand Eb key.
It costed $4000.

Well, that' just about it. Too bad I'm playing the oboe, the clarinet playing ruins the oboe playing and vice versa.

You own a Buffet RC and you don't play it?!? That should be a sin! :lol:

I hava an Amati ACL 612, and it costs a wee bit ovr a 1000$... I do play it, even though the double-bass is my prime instrument now.