Most instruments, like the flute, have very old ancestry. We see paintings and drawing that are hundreds, even thousands of years old depicting a woodwind instrument with the likes of a flute. However, the Clarinet family has a history that is fairly recent in the world of instruments.
Today we think that the first woodwind instruments were developed in the middle east and have, since then, traveled all over the world. Some old Egyptian and Greek relics depict a double oboe. However, the Clarinet did not result from an already existing instrument from that time, it developed from an instrument invented in the early 1680s, the Chalumeau.
Today we think that the first woodwind instruments were developed in the middle east and have, since then, traveled all over the world. Some old Egyptian and Greek relics depict a double oboe. However, the Clarinet did not result from an already existing instrument from that time, it developed from an instrument invented in the early 1680s, the Chalumeau.
Here, on the left, is a Chalumeau. It has the look of a Clarinet, same cylindrical body and the bell at the end. However, it doesn't have the exact same fingerings as a clarinet. The Chalumeau has a similar family that a Clarinet has, with bass, tenor, alto, and soprano versions.
Over time, the Chalumeau slowly evolved into the first Clarinet through the work of Johann Christoph Denner and his sons. They made a variety of improvements which contributed to the Clarinet. First, the thumb hole was added and a small tube inserted to prevent overblowing. Next, the two holes above the thumb and forefinger, allowing the player to play in both registers.
There are many different variations of the Clarinet, and we like to call these variations systems. There are slight differences between all the systems. Almost all modern Clarinet players use the Boehm system, completed in 1839. The Denner system, completed in 1710, lasted all the way until 1812 when the Müiller system took over. Iwan Müillers was a Clarinet player who lived in both Germany and Russia. He changed the reed into the one we used today, and developed the ligature. He also improved the durability of keys by adding leather pads. Out of the Müiller system branched out the Boehm system, the most common one, and some lesser used ones called the Baerman (1860), Albert (1870. Used in some jazz.), and the Oheler (1900. Used mainly in Germany). Another version is the Deutche system, which there is no confirmed date.
The Boehm system was created by Theobald Boehm, who used a mathematical process to determine the precisely correct placement for the holes to go to get perfect sound. He also added the ring key, which allows the player to cover holes larger then their own fingers to achieve lower notes.
There are many different variations of the Clarinet, and we like to call these variations systems. There are slight differences between all the systems. Almost all modern Clarinet players use the Boehm system, completed in 1839. The Denner system, completed in 1710, lasted all the way until 1812 when the Müiller system took over. Iwan Müillers was a Clarinet player who lived in both Germany and Russia. He changed the reed into the one we used today, and developed the ligature. He also improved the durability of keys by adding leather pads. Out of the Müiller system branched out the Boehm system, the most common one, and some lesser used ones called the Baerman (1860), Albert (1870. Used in some jazz.), and the Oheler (1900. Used mainly in Germany). Another version is the Deutche system, which there is no confirmed date.
The Boehm system was created by Theobald Boehm, who used a mathematical process to determine the precisely correct placement for the holes to go to get perfect sound. He also added the ring key, which allows the player to cover holes larger then their own fingers to achieve lower notes.
The Bass Clarinet uses the Boehm system as well. It was created after the Boehm Clarinet.