High-range instruments > piccolo clarinet in E-flat
Range of the piccolo clarinet in E-flat
General
The piccolo clarinet in E-flat is a prominent instrument in symphonic works of the early 20th century: if there’s a part for this instrument, there’s probably a solo or two. However, just the presence of this instrument (or any very high clarinet) in an orchestral tutti is clearly audible. The instrument is extremely versatile in all registers; it can almost do everything a B-flat clarinet can do, just higher. The classical music canon has deemed this instrument to be an extrovert, however it can be very much the opposite too.
Nearby range and tone colour pairings: piccolo, flute, musette, oboe, oboe d’amore, soprano saxophone, piccolo trumpet, trumpet, high/small percussion, violin
Distant range and tone colour pairings: low woodwind, low brass, large/low percussion, low strings
Video example (18th century)
Video example (20th century)
Notable repertoire:
Hector Berlioz — Symphonie Fantastique (1830) for orchestra
Richard Strauss — Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche (1895) for orchestra
Igor Stravinsky — Le sacre du printemps (1913) for orchestra
Anton Webern — Suite, op. 29 (1926) for ensemble
Paul Mefano — involutive (1958) for solo piccolo clarinet in E-flat
Conlon Nancarrow — Player Piano Study No. 7 (1965) for ensemble arr. Yvar Mikhashoff (1995)
Jeroen Speak — Epeisodos (1998) for solo piccolo clarinet in E-flat
Transposition hacks
sounding > written: think a minor third lower [ - m3 ]
written > sounding: think a minor third higher [ + m3 ]
