Editing Contra-alto clarinet (section)

{{Short description|Low pitched instrument}}
{{Infobox Instrument
| name           = Contra-Alto clarinet
| image          = SelmerContraAltoClarinet.jpg
| image_size     = 
| image_capt     = Selmer Contra-alto clarinet
| background     = woodwind
| classification = *[[Wind instrument|Wind]]
* [[Woodwind instrument|Woodwind]]
* [[Single-reed instrument|Single-reed]]
| hornbostel_sachs_desc = [[Single-reed instrument|Single-reeded]] [[aerophone]] with keys
| range          = <score> { \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f es2 \glissando \ottava #1 f''''2  \clef bass fis,2 \glissando \ottava #1 a''2 } </score><br> written Es3-F7, sounding Fis2-A5
}}

[[File:Kontraalt-Klarinette Leblanc mit Details der Mechanik.jpg|180px|thumb|Contra-alto clarinet by Leblanc]]
[[File:Claronegrande+contralto.jpg|thumb|180px|''Maldura's'' contralto clarinet, c. 1880, known as ''Clarone grande'' from the side, and a newer instrument from the front.]]
[[File:Paperclip contralto + contrebasse.jpg|thumb|180px|Clarinets "Paperclip" by Georges Leblanc Paris as contra-alto and as contrabass clarinet]]
[[File:Kontra-Alt+Bass.jpg|thumb|180px|Buffet Crampon contra-alto clarinet compared to a Selmer contrabass clarinet]]

The '''contra-alto clarinet''' is a large [[clarinet]] pitched a perfect fifth below the B♭ [[bass clarinet]]. It is a [[transposing instrument]] in E♭ sounding an octave and a major sixth below its written pitch, between the bass clarinet and the B♭ contrabass clarinet.

The contra-alto clarinet is often used in clarinet choirs<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/3343790|title=The Clarinet Choir|author=Weerts, Richard K.|year=1964|journal=Journal of Research in Music Education|volume=12|issue=3|pages=227–230|accessdate=2 October 2021|doi=10.2307/3343790|jstor=3343790 |s2cid=144443887 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> and ensembles of clarinets and saxophones. It may also be present in a [[wind band]]. The repertoire for contra-alto clarinet in the [[symphony orchestra]] is limited. In ensembles it is usually used in unison with the other woodwind instruments, such as ([[bassoon]], [[bass clarinet]] and [[contrabass clarinet]]), or it plays the lower octave in addition. {{Citation needed|date=October 2021}}