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Chalumeau first appears.
The chalumeau is the clarinet's predecessor. It had a range of one and a half octaves. -
Period: to
The Clarinet: A Brief History
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Register key created and basic structure of clarinet defined.
Johann Christopher Denner and his son Jacob made some major adjustments to the chalumeau, including the addition of the register key; this allowed for a wider and higher range. -
Clarinet introduced in Paris.
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Clarinet introduced in London.
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Thirteen-key model clarinet by Iwan Muller.
More improvements were made, including more keys, a different cut, and different tone holes. The 13-hole model was popular until the late 1800's. -
Boehm fingering system introduced.
This system is currently the most well-known and widely used system. It is used on the oboe and saxophone, as well. -
Boehm clarinet first manufactured.
The Boehm clarinet includes 17 keys, moveable rings, needle springs, and a wooden body, hence why it is called a "woodwind" instrument.
