A Clarinet Choir is pretty much 'what it says on the tin'!

 

Like a Choir of vocalists, it comprises a group of musicians who, instead of singing (usually Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass parts), play Clarinets over a range of parts.  Clarinets have a large compass and dynamic range and, because of this, the medium is particularly suited to this type of ensemble.  The repertoire, which has become increasingly popular over recent years, covers modern original musical works for the genre, as well as transcriptions of the classics and of popular music.  There is no fixed constitution, but the smallest ensemble tends to comprise one or more each of three Bb Clarinet parts together with one or more Bass Clarinets.  Larger ensembles tend to include an Eb Sopranino Clarinet; three or four separate parts for Bb Clarinet (each of which may be played by several musicians); Eb Alto Clarinet(s); Bb Bass Clarinet(s); EEb Contra-Alto Clarinet(s); and BBb Contrabass Clarinet(s).

 

Not all are necessarily needed all the time, so players of the very small or very large instruments may revert to Bb Clarinet when required!

 

Although the advertisement (left) from G.Leblanc (Paris) claims to show the complete Clarinet 'Family', it has omitted the EEb Conta-Alto (between numbers 6 and 7).    The Ab Sopranino (number 1) is rare in the United Kingdom and the Octo-Contrabass BBBb (number 8) is so exceptionally rare that it is believed that the only example is held by Leblanc itself!  There are also others in the 'Family' with which we really need not concern ourselves!  Designs vary too and Contra-Altos and Contrabasses can appear (like the Octo-Contrabass shown too) in the form described - for obvious reasons - as the 'paperclip' models, or looking more like the Bass Clarinet (number 6) but 'on steroids'!