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Profile of the Clarinet

By Espie Estrella, About.com

Name: Clarinet
Family: Woodwind
How to Play: By blowing wind directly into the instruments' edge and changing the pitch by opening and closing the holes with fingers.
Types: There are various types of clarinets, among them are: Octave, Sopranino, Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, and Bass.
First known Clarinet: The chalumeau, a single reed instrument, was the clarinet's predecessor. Around 1690, Johann Christoph Denner and his son Jacob of Nuremborg improved the chalumeau by inventing the speaker key. This gave birth to the clarinet which had a larger register.
Clarinet Players: Some of the well-known clarinet players are: Anton Stadler, Richard Muhlfield, Stanley Drucker, Richard Stoltzman, Larry Combs, James Pyne, Anthony Gigliotti, Jon Manasse, Eddie Daniels, Pete Fountain, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman.

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