Billy Kitson wrote:

>This could turn into a "Long Tale" here - isn't the Clarinet the "modern"
>CHALEMAUX (that is Near the spelling, I hope?)

Someone who's a professional clarinet player may be able to address this
more readily, but the clarinet is considered a descendant of the chalumeau,
and its adaptation is generally attributed to Jakob Denner (sp?) in the
early 18th century.  However, the name clarinet is probably derived from
its tonal resemblance to the old valveless trumpets (clarion) of the time.

A clarinet, especially one of the common soprano variety, is considered to
have three separate registers, and even today the lowest, most distinctive
register is known as the "chalumeau" register.  The middle register is
referred to as the "clarion", and the uppermost the "altissimo".

"CLARIONET, n.  An instrument of torture operated by a person with cotton
in his ears.  There are two instruments worse than a clarionet--two
clarionets."  Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary".

Bill H.