Klarinettit

Klarinettit, in English the clarinets, are a family of woodwind instruments played with a single reed attached to a mouthpiece. They feature a largely cylindrical bore and an extensive key system that enables quick chromatic changes. The standard instrument is the B-flat clarinet, though models in other keys such as A and E-flat exist. Klarinettit are commonly made from grenadilla wood or plastic, with wood preferred for performance-grade instruments and plastic often used in student models.

The clarinet originated in the early 18th century in Germany, developed from the chalumeau by Johann Christoph Denner. A major turning point was Theobald Boehm’s modernization in the mid-19th century, which introduced the modern keywork and fingering system now used worldwide. This Boehm system standardization greatly expanded the instrument’s playability and repertoire. The family has since diversified into several sizes to cover different pitch ranges.

The clarinet family includes more than the standard soprano in B-flat: sopranino and soprano in E-flat, alto clarinets, bass clarinets, and larger members such as contrabass clarinets. The typical written range for a modern B-flat clarinet spans approximately from E3 to C7, and it sounds a whole step lower than written. Clarinetists specialize across orchestral, chamber, solo, and jazz contexts, with repertoire ranging from Baroque transcriptions to contemporary works.

Care and construction: wooden bodies require humidity control, while plastic bodies are more stable for travel and beginners. Reed care, regular cleaning, and proper storage extend instrument life and tone quality.