Johann Christoph Denner

Two of his sons, Jacob and Johann David, also became instrument builders. At least sixty-eight instruments attributed to J. Denner have survived to the present day, although the surviving instruments with his name are believed to have come from his sons' workshops. Denner died in 1707 and was buried in Nuremberg. In 1730, Johann Gabriel Doppelmayr wrote of Denner: • At the beginning of the current century, he invented a new kind of pipe-work, the so-called clarinet.. And at length presented an improved chalumeau. On the basis of this passage, Denner has been credited by many with the improvement of the chalumeau and the invention of the clarinet. Despite the words "At the beginning of the current century" he is often said to have developed the clarinet in 1690; there is no evidence for this. In fact, J. Denner may have built no clarinets at all. Only one extant clarinet, owned by the University of California, Berkeley has been attributed to him, and this attribution has been challenged. Another instrument possibly made by Denner was destroyed in World War II. The earliest known reference to the clarinet is an invoice from Jacob Denner dated 1710, three years after J.

• Born — 13 August 1655 • Birthplace — Leipzig, Germany • Occupation — Instrument maker • Died — 26 April 1707 • Known for — Inventor of the clarinet • Illustration — A bass (basset) recorder in F made by Johann Christoph Denner, from the Berlin Musical Instrument Museum.

Johann Christoph Denner is recorded with the occupation musical instrument maker. Recorded as inventor, tool and die maker, musical instrument maker and musician.