MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. 
tracts the attention, and greatly deteriorates 
tlie value of the instrunient. In the open 
air, and at a little distance, when these de- 
fects cannot obtrude, w’e think the clarinet, 
either in a bold martial strain, or in a little 
air baderiant, or in a pathetic, |)lairitive, 
movement, stands pre-eminent above all the 
tribe of inflated instruments; for it admits 
of the finest swell, and of so much expres- 
sion that, in many points, it even claims a 
preference over the organ itself. 
Clarinets have, in general, five keys, 
though some have six and eight holes, of 
which one, under the instrument, is stopped 
by the thumb of the left hand, which also 
commands a key called G sharp, or the 
chalameau. The little finger of the right 
hand commands both a hole and a key. The 
G sharp key covers a very small brass tube, 
that projects through the wood, about a 
quarter of an inch, into the thickness of the 
bore in that part. When the key is uplifted 
by the thumb, the whole of the notes are 
raised a twelfth (i. e. twelve notes) ; when 
it is shut, the tones become deep and rich, 
and are called chalameau, probably in con- 
sequence of the brass tube above described, 
which originated in a small bit of reed hav- 
ing been inserted there. AVe are at the 
same time aware, that all wind instruments 
are but improvements upon, the ancient 
calamus, or reedpipe, formerly used by 
sheplierds and other rustics. The mouth- 
piece of the clarinet something resembles 
that of the common, or English flute, but 
its groove would be open above for about • 
an inch and a half, wer e it not covered by a 
flat single reed, the management of which is 
by no means very easy. When blown by a 
novice, the clarinet sounds extremely shrill 
and harsh, not unlike the most nncomfort- 
able tones proceeding from a goose in dis- 
tress. The bell of the clarinet is not pierced 
with lateral holes, as that of the hautboy 
is ; it is spacious, and gives a prodigious 
resonance to the notes. 
For the purpose, of accommodating to 
those keys which are most easy on other in- 
struments, various sizes of clarinets are 
made ; chiefly C and B flat, but sometimes 
they are made in D ; and for the purpose 
of playing the upper parts of melodies, the 
principal performers in military bands are 
provided with some in E flat ; there being 
a minor third above the instruments in C, 
and a major fourth above those in B flat, 
raise the music greatly : of course, the parts 
are transposed accordingly. 
The Flute is one of our most common in- 
struments, and affords more varieties than 
any of the foregoing. W'e shall first treat of 
the common flute, or flute-a-bec ; so called 
from its embouchure bearing some little re- 
semblance to a beak. It is, by many, sup- 
posed to be of English invention, but we 
cannot admit such to be the ca<e, since 
it appears to resemble the old calamus, 
or shepherd’s pipe, more than any other 
of this species. The sound is generated by 
blowing through a slit into the bore ; the 
superfluous wind passing out at a vent made 
on the top, close to the upper end ; there 
are seven finger-holes above, and one for 
each thumb below ; some have only one 
thumb-hole, others two small ones, like 
the G on a hautboy, for the purpose of 
making a semitone. All the flageolet tribe, 
which are of various sorts and sizes, belong 
to this species. The common flute is also 
made of various dimensions, thence assum- 
ing various designations of second, third, 
fourth, &c. according as it diminish in size, 
and becomes shriller in tone, The common 
flute yields a very soft agreeable sound, and 
is very appropriate to little artless airs ; but, 
having very little power, is by no means 
adapted to join in a band. The flageolet 
is, however, introduced, on many occasions, 
into dramatic orchestras, and finds a place 
in some bands ; its very piercing notes may 
be at all times distinguished. 
The German Flute, or Traversa, so call- 
ed from its being played cross-wise. When 
this mode, of blowing the instiument was 
first introduced we cannot say, for the gene- 
rality of medals, statues, &c. of very ancient 
date exhibit performers on the aveua, or 
common pipe, such as our Eitglish flute 
above described. The auletes, or Grecian 
flute players, and the Roman tibicines, who 
perfoimed on double flutes, one fingered 
by the right, tlie other by the left hand, 
thence called dextrse and sinistrse, all play- 
ed on instruments a-bec, and not traversa. 
The recorder was of the same form ; and 
the still more antiquated monauchos was 
made of a horn originally, (though after- 
wards of wood) consequently we are to 
suppose it also was blown a-bec. The in- 
strument called the ziiftblo, or, in French, 
the souflnet, is but a diminutive flageolet 
used for teaching birds. We may, from 
these premises, safely conclude that the 
German-flute is a very modern invention ; 
its name poipts out the quarter whence 
it originated. 
In lieu of a few simple notes, such as 
were afforded by the aveiia, or oaten-straw, 
