The clarinet in London’s popular entertainments, c. 1760– c. 1790

This article examines the use of the clarinet within popular entertainments in London during the later 18th century. Evidence is given from newspaper advertisements of the use of the clarinet in entertainments hosted at larger and smaller pleasure gardens and at balls, assemblies and masquerades. In addition, the presence of the instrument is explored across a wide range of other locations, including spas, health establishments, gaming venues, exhibitions, debating societies and circuses. The article suggests the clarinet was often used in wind bands with horns, sometimes in outdoor settings, and also in multisensory environments in which the instrument’s novel timbre would combine with the stimulation given by food, scents or electromagnetic waves. Overall, these varied uses of the clarinet can be interpreted as a manifestation of the ‘rage for Musick’ experienced in late 18th-century London.