History of the Clarinet From the 19th Century

While composers had already begun to write music for the clarinet, such as Mozart with the Clarinet Concerto and Clarinet Quintet, it was the 19th century that saw an explosion of use of the clarinet in the music of most composers of the day. This was mainly due to two factors.

Firstly, the further development of the clarinet by Iwan Műller in the first half of the century had resulted in a more reliable and agile instrument, which was later combined with the Boehm fingering system, adopted from the flute. Also, the tonal qualities suited the Romantic era, able to express a gamut of emotions as music moved from the formality of the Classical era to the Romantic.

As with Mozart, many composers of the Romantic era were inspired to write their great clarinet music by virtuosic clarinetists of their day. Carl Maria von Weber wrote two concertos and a concertino for the great clarinet player Heinrich Baermann, including some of the most technically difficult passages yet written for the clarinet.

Brahms wrote some sublime chamber music for the clarinet when inspired by another great clarinetist, Richard Muhlfield, who is credited with inspiring Brahms to compose again when he had claimed to have retired. Other composers who used the clarinet to great effect were Berlioz and Rossini.

The 20th century continued the popularity of the clarinet, which was now used in jazz as well as 'art' music. One of the most famous orchestral pieces of the 20th century, Rhapsody in Blue by Gershwin, begins with a memorable clarinet glissandos, perhaps the most well known instance of a clarinet used in orchestral music.

Written by Marc Hofkens - if you are interested in finding hundreds of articles about the clarinet go and find it at 1st-clarinet-music.

Lots of sheet music for the clarinet to download!

---

Silent Discos!

The press have reported this week that silent disco's are... Read More

How to Compose Your Own Music Using 8-bar Phrases

Some people think composing is this miraculous thing that only... Read More

The Case Against Traditional Piano Lessons

How would you like to spend 4 years in a... Read More

Top Rap Song

After months of email and posts, we've finally compiled and... Read More

How to Play What you Feel

Many students think that being able to play what you... Read More

Liberate your iPod

When Akio Morita came up with the idea of the... Read More

Music and Healing: The Power of Meaningful Words and Music

We All Have a Favorite Piece of Music that Moves... Read More

Throat Singing In Inuit Culture

Originally, Inuit throat singing was a form of entertainment among... Read More

Music, the Spiritual Connection

All through the age's music and spirituality as served hand... Read More

Learn to Play the Piano

Rocket Piano is a very professionally done piano lesson package.... Read More

The Art Of Practicing - How To See Real Results

I have always believed that success, in practically any subject... Read More

Rhapsody Music Downloads Part II - A pleasant experience?

Welcome back to Part II of Rhapsody Music Downloads! I... Read More

6 Tips for Organizing Your Music Files

If you're a digital music fan, you probably have problems... Read More

Why New Musicians (Rappers) Fail: Three Reasons and Solutions

Despite the title of this article, the purpose of it... Read More

Performance and Gigs

"For optimum amp tone onstage, plug your amp into your... Read More

Bang on Your Drum All Day Long - Without Annoying Your Neighbors!

Bang! Bam! Bang! Have you always wanted to play the... Read More

Alternative Sales Sources for Your Music

Following, is a list of alternative sources that may be... Read More

Record Collecting Still Thriving in the Twenty-first Century

It may surprise many to find that the hobby of... Read More

How to Construct Chords and Improvise

How To Construct Basic Chords on the PianoThe easiest way... Read More

Try Some New Music!

Stuck in a music rut?It happens. After listening to your... Read More

Piano on the Right-Side of the Brain

Some of you may remember a book titled "Drawing on... Read More

How the Internet Helps Musicians

Everyone talks about the negative impact of the Internet on... Read More

Motorhead Inferno

Motorhead-"Inferno"-Review by Les Lewellyn When David Grohl... Read More

50 Cent

More so than any other music since the blues, hip-hop... Read More

Its Jewish Music, But Is The Music Jewish?

A while back I was driving along the Jerusalem highway... Read More

Celtic Music: The Japanese Connection

My friend, guitarist Brian Hughes, toured with the Chieftain's in... Read More

Review: Coheed and Cambria - Second Stage Turbine Blade

Ever wonder what would happen if you mixed the progressive... Read More

The Need To Perform

I can't believe how much of the year has gone... Read More

The Didjeridu

In Northern Australia the Didjeridu is seen as a phallic... Read More

Jazzing Up Your Leadership Style

I met New York jazzman Tim Armacost in college almost... Read More

Spectral Muses Revisited: The Channeled Melodies of Rosemary Brown

Rosemary Brown (1916-2001) was a middle-aged South London widow, making... Read More

Do you really need college to learn to play music?

Music courses are a great way to learn about virtually... Read More

Learn Piano the Easy Way!

There are essentially two ways to learn piano - note... Read More