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Contra-alto clarinet
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== History == The contra-alto clarinet<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k931656p|title=Histoire de l'instrumentation, depuis le XVIe siècle jusqu'à nos jours, par H. Lavoix fils...|first=Henri (1846–1897) Auteur du texte|last=Lavoix|date=2 October 1878|accessdate=2 October 2021|via=gallica.bnf.fr}}</ref> is largely a development of the 2nd half of the 20th century, although there were some precursors in the 19th century: * In 1829, {{ill|Johann Heinrich Gottlieb Streitwolf|de}}, an instrument maker in Göttingen, introduced an instrument tuned in F in the shape and fingering of a basset horn, which could be called a {{not a typo|contrabasset}} horn because it played an octave lower than it. * Around 1890 the Belgian clarinet maker [[Eugène Albert]] or his son E. J. Albert also developed an alto clarinet in F, but without the additional basset notes typical of the basset horn notated C to it. * In 1851, [[Adolphe Sax]] applied for a patent<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=dk4FAAAAQAAJ&dq=brevet+clarinette+contralto&pg=PA63 Description des machines et procédés spécifiés dans les brevets d'invention, publ. par C.P. Molard.] [With] Table générale des vingt premiers volumes. [Continued as] Description des machines ... pour lesquels des brevets d'invention ont été pris sous le régime de la loi du 5 juillet 1844 Ministère de l'agriculture et du commerce, ''Description des machines et procédés spécifiés dans les brevets d'invention pour lesquels des brevets d'invention ont été pris sous le régime de la loi du 5. juillet 1844'' (Description of the machines and processes specified in the patents for which patents have been taken out under the law of 5 July 1844).</ref> for an instrument, he called "contrabass clarinet in E♭" in order to replace the bowed contrabass of symphony orchestras in wind bands with an instrument whose lowest sounding note is contra-G or G1, like the contrabass. This is the case with a contra clarinet tuned in E♭, whose written lowest tone is the small E♭ (E-flat<sub>3</sub>), as with most clarinets. The pitch of this instrument today identifies it as a contra alto clarinet. However, it never came onto the market. * Around 1880 the Italian clarinet maker Alessandro Maldura built a contra alto clarinet in E{{flat}} of grenadilla wood with 14 keys, 1.93 m long, which he called ''Clarone grande'', exhibited at the 1881 Italian National Exhibition in Milan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.academia.edu/Documents/in/Vincent_dIndy|title=Vincent d'Indy Research Papers - Academia.edu|website=www.academia.edu|accessdate=2 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Pedal Clarinet |volume= 21 | page = 36 |last= Schlesinger |first= Kathleen |author-link= Kathleen Schlesinger}}</ref> ===20th century=== * {{ill|Georges Leblanc Paris|fr}} built two models of a contra-alto clarinet in E-flat, Model 350 and 352,<ref>Lucien Cailliet, The Leblanc Contralto and Double Bass Clarinets (book)</ref> from [[metal]]. Model 350 was in a curved shape (known as a ''paperclip'') and went to written low C. These models also have three trill keys on the right side of the upper joint. The curved shape makes the instrument much easier to transport than the traditional straight, non-dismantled model.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lynsgarden.co.uk/Rosecroft/Eb_Contra-alto.html|title=Eb_Contra-alto|website=www.lynsgarden.co.uk|accessdate=2 October 2021}}</ref> Model 352 was straight in a bass clarinet-shape to written low E♭. Other makers of contra-alto clarinets have developed mainly stretched models. These include: * [[Henri Selmer Paris]] ** Model 26/40 in rosewood to written E, E♭, or D * [[Buffet Crampon]] ** Metal model patented in 1891 for Evette and Schaeffer (patent FR218373/5)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://clariboles-et-cie.blogspot.com/2008/12/clarinettes-graves-en-mtal-post-2.html|title=Le chtiot musée des Clariboles et Cie: Clarinettes graves en métal (Post 2)|date=7 December 2008|accessdate=2 October 2021}}</ref> ** Model Prestige 1553 made of grenadilla, 19 keys. * [[Selmer Company|Conn-Selmer USA]] (1980 onwards), Bundy (from 1964<ref>"Now! A clarinet choir of your own" (Selmer advertisement: "Selmer's newest Resonite—the E flat Contra"). Music Educators Journal 51:1 (September-October 1964).</ref> to 1980), Buescher ({{circa}} 1968–1969): model 1440 made of [[ebonite]], to written E♭ (written), with 18 keys and 7 plateau keys. * Leblanc USA / Vito: Model L7181 in Reso-Tone material to E flat (written). * Ripamonti, Italian manufacturer: model 322 in [[rosewood]], to d (written). * Martin Frères Company<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://martinfreres.net/clarinetcatalog/low-clarinets/|title=Alto, Bass & Contra Clarinets | Martin Freres Company|date=6 March 2015 |accessdate=2 October 2021}}</ref> ** EE-3488 model in ABS ** EE-3434 model in ebonite * Harry Pedler, Inc. (Elkhart, IN) was by late 1926 making a contrabass clarinet—presumably an E flat contra-alto.<ref>"Harry Pedler Inc. Reports Increase of Over 30 Per Cent During Last Year." The Music Trade Review 84:1 (1 January 1927), 26.</ref> Today's contra-alto clarinets are mainly based on the [[Boehm system]], Foag Klarinettenbau offers two models with the German system.
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