Selmer Paris "Muse" A Clarinet

Henri Selmer Paris Muse — A Clarinet

Where precision meets inspiration.

The Muse A clarinet is the culmination of over four years of collaboration between Henri Selmer Paris's instrument designers and professional orchestral clarinetists from around the world. Built for musicians seeking a precise and direct response, the Muse was designed to become the natural extension of your breath — an instrument that doesn't just respond to you, but anticipates you.

Sound

Each Muse clarinet is crafted from premium, aged grenadilla wood, carefully selected to produce a gorgeous, dark tone that is rich in harmonics. Characterized by immediate vibration and a woody, luminous, resonant tone, the Muse delivers exceptional consistency across all registers — including in the often-tricky passages between them. Whether navigating the chalumeau's depths or the clarion's brilliance, the Muse holds its center with authority and warmth.

Intonation

The A Muse features a low E/F correction key, addressing one of the most persistent tuning challenges in orchestral clarinet playing. Where most clarinets run flat on these notes by 15 to 25 cents, the Muse brings them dramatically closer to center. The result is a clarinet that lets you focus on music, not on compensating.

Ergonomics

The redesigned keywork optimizes the placement and shape of keys to reduce fatigue and promote a more natural hand position. Ergonomic comfort and a thoughtfully designed key system allow for very quick adaptation to the instrument — making it feel immediately familiar, even on first play.

The EVOLUTION★ System

The EVOLUTION★ system represents one of the most significant innovations in professional clarinet making in decades. Here's how it works: the upper joint is first bored out slightly larger than its final specification, then a new-generation resin is introduced as an internal lining, and the bore is finished to precise dimensions. The result is a hybrid construction that combines the warmth and resonance of aged grenadilla wood with the structural stability of modern materials.

The benefits are both acoustic and practical. The resin lining prevents moisture from penetrating the wood, dramatically reducing the risk of cracking — one of the most common and costly hazards of owning a fine wooden clarinet. Selmer backs this with a 10-year warranty against cracking on the upper joint, a level of confidence rarely seen in the industry.

Beyond crack protection, the EVOLUTION★ system improves thermal conductivity. The bore reaches playing temperature more quickly than a traditional all-wood instrument, meaning the clarinet comes to pitch faster — a real advantage in concert halls, quick warm-up situations, or changing environmental conditions. Scientific studies and blind testing conducted by Selmer Paris have confirmed no perceptible difference in tone between EVOLUTION★ and standard instruments, preserving everything players love about a wooden clarinet while eliminating its most significant vulnerabilities.

Craftsmanship & Finish

Selmer Paris marks every Muse with a laser engraving of a feather, symbolizing lightness and creative freedom. Two flat black chrome-plated metal rings and two silver-plated rings give the Muse a striking, distinctive appearance unlike any other clarinet on the market.

Includes

The Muse A clarinet ships with Selmer's Echo mouthpiece — the first Selmer Paris clarinet mouthpiece manufactured entirely on a digitally controlled machine for unprecedented consistency — along with a silver-plated ligature and cap, PRiSMe hardshell case, maintenance kit, and an exclusive 160-page inspirational notebook created in collaboration with clarinetist Kinan Azmeh.

The Selmer Muse A is not simply an upgrade — it's a rethinking of what a professional clarinet can be, built to unlock your artistry at every level of expression.