Clarinette

As Printed on a Score

Clarinette (plural Clarinettes) labels the clarinet staff in French scores, abbreviated Cl. or Clar., with its key: Clarinette en si♭, en la, en ut, Petite clarinette en mi♭. The written notes sound a whole step lower in B-flat, a minor third lower in A. In some scores Cl. also abbreviates Cloches (bells), so read it beside the full staff name.

Abbreviations: Cl., Clar., Clar

Also spelled: Clarinettes, Clarinette en si bémol, Clarinette en la

How Composers Use It

French scores favor the clarinet’s clear, liquid upper registers and its pianissimo: Debussy and Ravel write long, floating clarinet lines and rapid arabesques. Write in B-flat or A as players expect, choosing A for sharp keys. The light, centered sound of the French school makes soft high passages usable, but still allow breathing places in long lines.

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