Which instrument sounds down a major second plus two octaves from written treble?

• A. Oboe
• B. Bb contra bass bass clarinet
• C. Eb alto clarinet
• D. Bb soprano clarinet

Answer: (B)

Transposing instruments change how written notes sound. The amount of transposition tells you how far the sounding pitch is from what’s written.

The contrabass clarinet in B-flat is designed so that when you read a note in treble, the actual concert pitch is lower by a major second and then moved down through two octave registers. In other words, it sounds down a major second plus two octaves from what’s written. That exact interval matches the requirement in this question.

The other options don’t fit that interval: an oboe in C sounds as written (no transposition); a clarinet in B-flat soprano sounds down a major second (no extra octave displacement); and an E-flat alto clarinet transposes by a different interval (not two octaves plus a major second).