Johann Christoph Denner

The invention of the clarinet (c1690-1700) is attributed to Johann Christoph Denner of Nuremberg, who was baptised on 13 August 1655 in Leipzig. The clarinet is derived from the earlier Chalumeau family of instruments, and Denner's chief improvement was the addition of the speaker key, providing the instrument with a new upper range. He died in April 1707 and was buried on the 26th of the month.