Thameside Clarinet Choir
Thameside Clarinet Choir


ABOUT THE THAMESIDE CLARINET CHOIR
Clarinet Choirs | Thameside's History | Musical Director

Instruments of the clarinet choir

About Clarinet Choirs
What is a clarinet choir? Very briefly, it is an 'orchestra' of clarinets but is more akin to a vocal choir in that the sounds made by the different sizes of clarinet blend together rather than being contrasted as with an orchestra.

Of all the woodwind instruments, the clarinet has the biggest range of notes, and produces a variety of tones throughout its playing compass.

It is most suited to large ensemble music not only because the warm tone of the clarinet blends together well, but also the clarinet family embraces a huge range of notes, normally from around Bb nearly three octaves above middle C on the piano, down to Bb at the bottom of the keyboard, more than three octaves below middle C.

A Clarinet Choir can be as small as 3 Bb Clarinets and a Bass Clarinet, but a Full Choir could be scored for:

(Ab Clarinet)
Eb Clarinet
1st Bb Clt
2nd Bb Clt
3rd Bb Clt
1st Alto Clt
2nd Alto Clt
(Basset Horn)
1st Bass Clt
2nd Bass Clt
Contra Alto Clt
Contra Bass Clt