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clarinet: Quick Facts

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Facts

Also Known As clarinette • klarinette

Photos

A clarinet player's hands holding the instrument in focus, with other woodwind musicians blurred in the background during an orchestral performance.
Labeled diagram of a B-flat clarinet, showing parts such as the mouthpiece, reed, metal ligature, ring key, key, and bell on this single-reed woodwind instrument.
Labeled diagram of a bass clarinet, a woodwind instrument, showing the mouthpiece with reed, metal ligature, curved neck, keys, thumb rest, and flared bell.
Labeled diagram of a contrabass clarinet, a large woodwind instrument, showing its bell, keys, mouthpiece with reed and metal ligature, and end pin.
Labeled diagram of an E-flat clarinet showing its main parts, including the bell, keys, ring key, mouthpiece, metal ligature, and reed.
Illustration of wind instruments grouped by type, showing woodwinds-tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute, oboe, bassoon-and brass instruments-horn, trumpet, trombone, and tuba.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
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Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms
German composer
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky
Russian composer
Benny Goodman in a tuxedo with bow tie and boutonniere, smiling and holding a clarinet, circa 1945.
Benny Goodman
American musician
Weber, Carl Maria von
Carl Maria von Weber
German composer and musician
Béla Bartók
Béla Bartók
Hungarian composer
Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland
American composer
Jimmy Dorsey
Jimmy Dorsey
American musician
John Corigliano
John Corigliano
American composer
Woody Herman.
Woody Herman
American musician
Benny Carter
Benny Carter
American musician
Humphrey Lyttelton, on the cover of the album Jazz Concert, released by Parlophone in 1953.
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Easley Blackwood, Jr.
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Johnny Dodds, 1923
Johnny Dodds
American musician
Jimmie Noone
Jimmie Noone
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Bandleader Artie Shaw
Artie Shaw
American musician
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Theobald Boehm
German musician and composer
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Henry Threadgill
American musician
Eric Dolphy
Eric Dolphy
American musician
Russell, Pee Wee
Pee Wee Russell
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