Bass Clarinet

The bass clarinet has been used to provide the bass voice in the orchestral woodwind section since the middle of the 19th century, a role it shares with the bassoon. The bass clarinet is appreciated for its expressive timbre, which is often poetically described as “dark velvet”. Generally one bass clarinet is used in the orchestra. The bass clarinet is not only an established member of the full orchestra but also of clarinet orchestras and military bands. In addition, it is now also found in chamber music ensembles.