The clarinet was invented around 1700 by Johann Christoph Denner in Nuremberg, Germany. Denner based his design on an earlier folk instrument called the 'chalumeau.' The primary innovation was the addition of a 'register key,' which allowed the instrument to jump to a higher range of notes (the 'register') with ease. This expanded the instrument's range significantly compared to the chalumeau. The name 'clarinet' likely comes from the Italian word 'clarino,' a type of high-pitched trumpet, because the early clarinet's high notes had a similar bright, piercing quality. Mozart was one of the first major composers to embrace the clarinet, famously writing his Clarinet Concerto for his friend Anton Stadler. Over time, the instrument's bore was refined and more keys were added, leading to the sophisticated Boehm system clarinet used by most modern orchestral and jazz players.