contra-alto clarinet

It may also be present in a wind band. The repertoire for contra-alto clarinet in the symphony orchestra is limited. In ensembles it is usually used in unison with the other woodwind instruments, such as (bassoon, bass clarinet and contrabass clarinet), or it plays the lower octave in addition.

• Name — Contra-Alto clarinet • Background — woodwind • Classification — *Wind • Woodwind • Single-reed • Hornbostel Sachs Desc — Single-reeded aerophone with keys • Range — { \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f es2 \glissando \ottava #1 f'2 \clef bass fis,2 \glissando \ottava #1 as2 } written E3-F7, sounding F1-A5 • Illustration — Contra-alto clarinet by Leblanc • Illustration — Maldura's contralto clarinet, c. 1880, known as Clarone grande from the side, and a newer instrument from the front. • Illustration — Clarinets "Paperclip" by Georges Leblanc Paris as contra-alto and as contrabass clarinet • Illustration — Buffet Crampon contra-alto clarinet compared to a Selmer contrabass clarinet

The contra-alto clarinet is largely a development of the 2nd half of the 20th century, although there were some precursors in the 19th century: • In 1829, Johann Heinrich Gottlieb Streitwolf, an instrument maker in Göttingen, introduced an instrument tuned in F in the shape and fingering of a basset horn, which could be called a contrabasset horn because it played an octave lower than it. • Around 1890 the Belgian clarinet maker Eugène Albert or his son E. J. Albert also developed an alto clarinet in F, but without the additional basset notes typical of the basset horn notated C to it. • In 1851, Adolphe Sax applied for a patent for an instrument, he called "contrabass clarinet in E♭" in order to replace the bowed contrabass of symphony orchestras in wind bands with an instrument whose lowest sounding note is contra-G or G1, like the contrabass. This is the case with a contra clarinet tuned in E♭, whose written lowest tone is the small E♭ (E-flat 3), as with most clarinets. The pitch of this instrument today identifies it as a contra alto clarinet. However, it never came onto the market. • Around 1880 the Italian clarinet maker Alessandro Maldura built a contra alto clarinet in E of grenadilla wood with 14 keys, 1.93 m long, which he called Clarone grande, exhibited at the 1881 Italian National Exhibition in Milan.

• Georges Leblanc Paris built two models of a contra-alto clarinet in E-flat, Model 350 and 352, from metal. Model 350 was in a curved shape (known as a paperclip) and went to written low C. These models also have three trill keys on the right side of the upper joint. The curved shape makes the instrument much easier to transport than the traditional straight, non-dismantled model. Model 352 was straight in a bass clarinet-shape to written low E♭. Other makers of contra-alto clarinets have developed mainly stretched models. These include: • Henri Selmer Paris • Model 26/40 in rosewood to written E, E♭, or D • Buffet Crampon • Metal model patented in 1891 for Evette and Schaeffer (patent FR218373/5) • Model Prestige 1553 made of grenadilla, 19 keys. • Conn-Selmer USA (1980 onwards), Bundy (from 1964 to 1980), Buescher (c. 1968–1969): model 1440 made of ebonite, to written E♭ (written), with 18 keys and 7 plateau keys. • Leblanc USA / Vito: Model L7181 in Reso-Tone material to E flat (written). • Ripamonti, Italian manufacturer: model 322 in rosewood, to d (written). • Martin Frères Company • EE-3488 model in ABS • EE-3434 model in ebonite • Harry Pedler, Inc. (Elkhart, IN) was by late 1926 making a contrabass clarinet—presumably an E flat contra-alto. Today's contra-alto clarinets are mainly based on the Boehm system, Foag Klarinettenbau offers two models with the German system.

The length of the tube (without bell) ranges from about 190 centimeters for a contra-alto clarinet, which lowest written tone is E♭, and up to about 230 centimeters for an instrument down to C.

• Lien, Fantastic Scherzo with Piano. • Siennicki, Nocturne with piano. • Bret Newton, Three Songs for Contra Alto Clarinet and Piano.

• Zeno Baldi: copia carbone for ensemble incl. contralto clarinet and electronics • Chris Dench: Funk for contralto clarinet and percussion • Davide Ianni: Dedalo Nero for contralto clarinet solo • Bernhard Lang: Das Hirn for soprano and ensemble incl. ossia part for contralto clarinet

• Dick Hyman, Sextet for Clarinets.

• Lucien Cailliet is known for his arrangements for wind orchestra and clarinet ensemble, combining over 6 octaves of different clarinets from the E♭ sopranino to the contra-alto clarinet. The contra-alto clarinet is regularly used in professional wind orchestras. Americans became aware of the importance of instrumentation during the 20th century to give instruments such as the contra-alto clarinet a place in the brass band (in English military band or concert band).

There are arrangements for this instrument drawn from the repertoire for other low wind instruments (tuba, bassoon,...). • Andrea Catozzi, Beelzebub (Varied programme for tuba solo).