by Sam Cronk

The bass clarinet, the lowest voiced member of the clarinet family, was first manufactured either by G. Lott (Paris, 1772) or Heinrich Grenser (Dresden, 1793). Throughout the next century, there were several innovations in the construction and size of the body of this instrument. Most significantly, key mechanisms were added which extended the range of notes it could play. Some models had folded bodies, similar to bassoons. The more contemporary straight-bodied clarinet was designed by the Belgian instrument manufacturer, Adolph Sax, in the early 19th century.
Music which prominently features this instrument include Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite" (Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, juxtaposing the bass clarinet and the celesta) and the final measures of Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde", and more contemporary works such as Stockhausen's "In Friendship" (1977) and Ofer Ben Amot's "I, Jerusalem" (1992) .

Information profived by: http://www.si.umich.edu