The Alexandria Citizens Band

Clarinet Choir

The Alexandria Citizens Band Clarinet Choir first performed in 1980.  Since then, it has been organized on an as-required basis, assembling and rehearsing for specific performances.  Martin Horn has been the director of this ensemble since its inception.

Ensembles of clarinets of different sizes date back to the initial popularization of the instrument in the late 18th century.  Mozart wrote music for an ensemble of clarinets and basset horns (alto clarinets) that may have been played with multiple players on a part.  Today, clarinet choirs of up to 50 players – on soprano, alto, bass and contrabass clarinets – are part of many college music programs.  One of the first large clarinet choirs was organized by Simeon Bellison in the 1930s, under the auspices of the New York Philharmonic.  A member of this ensemble later played in the original 1980 ACB Clarinet Choir.

The basic instrumentation of the ACB Clarinet Choir is five members – four B-flat soprano clarinets and one bass clarinet.  It can be expanded to include the entire clarinet section from the concert band, including alto and contrabass clarinets if these players are available.

The group can play a wide variety of music.  Many of the performances have been holiday concerts at senior citizen homes and similar institutions.  The music library also includes classical transcriptions, folk and popular melodies, and wedding ceremony music (that first 1980 performance was for a wedding).  Almost all of the library was specially arranged for the ACB Clarinet Choir.