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Soprano clarinet
Classification	Wind Woodwind Single-reed
Playing range
	Written range:;
Related instruments
	Piccolo clarinet; Basset clarinet; Alto clarinet; Bass clarinet;
Musicians
	Category:Clarinetists;

The soprano clarinets are a sub-family of the clarinet family. They include the most common types of clarinets, and indeed are often referred to as simply "clarinets".

Among the soprano clarinets are the B♭ clarinet, the most common type, whose range extends from D below middle C (written E) to about the C three octaves above middle C; the A and C clarinets, sounding respectively a semitone lower and a whole tone higher than the B♭ clarinet; and the low G clarinet, sounding yet a whole tone lower than the A, rare in western music but popular in the folk music of Turkey. While some writers reserve a separate category of sopranino clarinets for the E♭ and D clarinets,^[1] these are more usually regarded as soprano clarinets as well.

The clarinet family is commonly used in an orchestral setting to provide color, especially with regards to harmonies. Composers in the classical and romantic periods featured clarinet solos as well, relying on its unique tone and range.

Clarinets in C are common in music of the classical period and in some later music, particularly opera.

There have also been soprano clarinets in C, A, and B♭ with curved barrels and bells marketed under the names Saxonette, Claribel, and Clariphon.

Shackleton lists also obsolete "sopranino" clarinets in (high) G, F, and E, and soprano clarinets in B and A♭. The G "sopranino", only a half step lower than the A♭ piccolo clarinet, was popular during the Biedermeier period in Vienna for playing Schrammelmusik.

[edit] References

^ Nicholas Shackleton. "Clarinet", Grove Music Online, ed. L. Macy (accessed 21 February 2006), grovemusic.com (subscription access).

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[0] Nicholas Shackleton. "Clarinet", Grove Music Online, ed. L. Macy (accessed 21 February 2006), grovemusic.com (subscription access).

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