Early 5-key clarinets from the late 18th century

Photo: (2558), (1154/100), (2001)

(2558) Clarinet in B^b; 5 keys. Maker: John Hale, London, c 1790.
(1154/100) Clarinet in B^b; 5 keys. Maker: T. Collier, London, c 1770.
(2001) Clarinet in C; 5 keys. Maker: W. Milhouse, London, c 1805.

The earliest extant clarinet with five keys was made by Thomas Collier (died 1785). No other clarinet with five keys made before 1770 has survived.
The five keys are:

• a key for throat A on the front of the upper section
• a speaker key on the back of the upper section, used to overblow and to produce B^b when it is operated together with the A key
• a long side lever activated by L4 (the 4th or little finger of the left hand) for the tone hole at the bottom of the instrument producing E₃ or (overblown) B₄
• a long side lever activated by L4 for the tone hole at the bottom of the instrument producing F^#₃/C^#₅
• a key at the bottom of the lower section operated by R4 giving G^#₃/E^b₅

(100/1154) Clarinet in Bb, 5 keys (T. Collier, London, c 1770) Sound examples played by Lesley Schatzberger Talk about talk about the Collier clarinet [Real video ] Xavier Lefevre (1763-1829), excerpt from 2nd movement (Adagio) of Sonata No. 7 (probably last decade of 18th century) [Real video ] Xavier Lefevre (1763-1829), opening of 3rd movement (Rondo, Alegretto) of Duo in C major for clarinet and bassoon (c 1815) [Real video ]

Photo: (974), (938), (1846), (4062)

(974) Clarinet in B^b; 7-key Continental. Maker: F. Piering, Graz, Austria, c 1835.
(938) Clarinet in B^b; 6-key English with Wood's Patent for L4. Maker: George Wood, London, c 1832.
(1846) Clarinet in C; 6-key English. Maker: D'Almaine & Co., London, c 1834.
(4062) Clarinet in B^b; 6-keys. Maker: Muzio Clementi, London, c 1815.

On the continent the sixth key added to the clarinet was a cross key for L4, as you can see on the instrument to the left in the picture (974) made in Austria. In Britain six-key instruments used to have a long side trill key. This key enables the player to change very rapidly between A and B-natural and between B^b and C₅. Without these keys it is very awkward to trill, because for A and B^b the clarinettist uses the left thumb and index-finger. For B-natural and C₅ all the tone-holes have to be covered, and this cannot be done quickly.

Photo: (527), (2447), (80), (4532), (2002)

(527) Clarinet in C; 9 keys. Maker: Christopher Gerock, London, c 1826.
(2447) Clarinet in C; 9 keys. Maker: D'Almaine & Co., London, c 1845.
(80) Clarinet in C; 9 keys. Maker: Thomas Key, London, c 1815.
(4532) Clarinet in C; 9 keys. Maker: Thomas Key, London, c 1815.
(2002) Clarinet in B^b; 8 keys. Maker: Cramer & Key, London, c 1806.

Looking at the clarinet to the right in the picture (2002) made by Cramer & Key, we may notice how early further keys followed, and how determined makers were to progress. This instrument features two more keys than contemporary 6-key clarinets: it has a cross key on the upper section to give E^b₄/B^b₅ and a cross key on the lower section for B-natural₃/F^#₅. Both keys are an alternative for the usual "forked" fingering where the player closes, for example, two holes with the index and the ring finger but keeps the tone-hole for the middle finger open. Because these forked notes sounded dull, makers tried to get a better balance on the clarinet by providing additional keys to eliminate forked fingering.
Unlike the other clarinets in this picture, that of Cramer & Key is still partitioned in three sections (upper section, middle section, lower section) and not in two (upper and lower section). Known from the continental clarinet described above is the cross key for C^#₄/G^#₅ added as a ninth key on the four instruments to the left in this picture.
Let us turn our attention to the instruments of Thomas Key, who died probably in 1853. After a partnership with John Cramer in London he established there independently in 1807. His two clarinets (80) and (4532) look very similar, but the holes for E^b₄/B^b₅ are on opposite sides of the instrument; also one has flat round keys and the other has flat square keys. Thus neither the shape of the keys nor the partitioning of the instrument are a completely reliable indication of the age of a clarinet.