Subcontrabass clarinet

Octocontra-alto clarinet

The octocontra-alto clarinet (also known as octo contra alto, sub contra alto, or octocontralto) is the second largest member of the clarinet family. The instrument is pitched one octave lower than the E♭ contra-alto clarinet, two octaves lower than the E♭ alto clarinet, and two octaves and a fifth lower than the standard B♭ soprano clarinet (making it an EE♭ transposing instrument). Only three octocontra-alto clarinets were ever built,^{[citation needed]} all by the G. Leblanc Corporation.

Octocontrabass clarinet

The octocontrabass clarinet (also known as octo contrabass clarinet, octo contra bass clarinet, or subcontra bass clarinet) is the largest, and longest, and lowest playing member of the clarinet family. It is pitched an octave below the contrabass clarinet, or three octaves lower than the standard B♭ soprano clarinet. It stood at near 8 foot 2 inches (2.49 m).

Although only one such instrument was ever produced,^{[citation needed]} by Leblanc, at least three pieces of music have been written specifically for it by Norwegian composer Terje Lerstad (Trisonata, Op. 28; De Profundis, Op. 139; and Mirrors in Ebony for clarinet choir, Op. 134), and two more by American composer Adam Gilberti ("Reflections of Honor", for large orchestra, "Four Poems" for orchestra and mixed chorus). There are no known recordings of the pieces.

Notes

External links

• Octocontrabass & Octocontralto Clarinets page at www.contrabass.com, including images.
• Further images from Terje Lerstad's home page.