Klarinet Archive - Posting 000004.txt from 1969/12

From: kurtheisig@-----.net
Subj: Re: [kl] Alto vs. bassethorn
Date: Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500

It is interesting that in the last 40 years or so that I have heard people claim alto clarinets were an inferior instrument, the big complaint was that they had a small bore...

That was usually from an individual that just flap-jawing anyway.

Kurt

-----Original Message-----
>From: Laurence Beckhardt <lbeckhardt@-----.net>
>Sent: Dec 30, 2006 3:19 PM
>To: klarinet@-----.org
>Subject: Re: [kl] Alto vs. bassethorn
>
>Matt makes a thoughtful contribution to this
>interesting discussion, up to a point. He lapses into
>cliche and ill considered conventional wisdom with
>this statement:
>
>"I want to be clear that I do not consider alto
>clarinet
>to be a sufficient substitute for a small bore basset
>horn, but we know that it does happen in performance."
>
>The simple minded fixation on bore size reveals more
>about Matt than about the basset horn or alto
>clarinet.
>
>Happy new year!
>
>
>--- Matt Hanson <matthanson920@-----.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> Regading only low range and with timbre difference
>> aside, it is interesting to point out that a new
>> version of the Buffet alto clarinet features the low
>> Eb on the body now, instead of the bell. The
>> previous
>> bell is still used, however, the tone hole is left
>> open without an actual key. It is being used as a
>> resonance tone hole for a "true" low Eb instead of a
>> "bell" low Eb.
>>
>> While not a sufficient subsitute for many of us, we
>> know that alto clarinets are sometimes used to
>> perform
>> basset horn parts when an instrument is not easily
>> accessable. From a clarinet playing and instrument
>> repair perspective, I have been intrigued by the
>> possibility that someone could add the necessary
>> bell
>> hardware and a key connection on to this new alto
>> clarinet for the low D, thus resulting in the
>> previously missing low C of the basset horn.
>>
>> Alto clarinet parts horns are indeed plentiful and
>> the
>> original equipment bell key and mount could even be
>> acquired from Buffet directly since they have made
>> them that way for so long until recently. This would
>> leave only the fabrication of the touch piece and
>> the
>> mounting to obtain the low D (sounding the lowest
>> note
>> on the basset horn). Since its introduction, I have
>> been curious if anyone would surface, having made
>> this
>> alteration to the new Buffet alto clarinet, but I
>> have
>> not heard of any to date. I doubt there is a huge
>> market for new alto clarinets to begin with since
>> used
>> instruments are quite plentiful, but it may be
>> useful
>> in obtaining the missing note in the range of the
>> basset horn, should someone already have one of
>> these
>> in their posession, especially in an environment
>> where
>> a basset horn is absent or not easily accessible.
>> Again, timbre issues and upper range aside here. I
>> want to be clear that I do not consider alto
>> clarinet
>> to be a sufficient substitute for a small bore
>> basset
>> horn, but we know that it does happen in
>> performance.
>>
>>
>> I'm curious, though, about the thoughts of others
>> regarding this fabrication possibility to achieve
>> the
>> missing note.
>>
>> Matthew Hanson
>>
>>
>> > > In fact, the low Eb on an alto clarinet is the
>> > same pitch as the
>> > > low Db on a basset horn, so the alto needs only
>> > ONE additional
>> > > low note in order to have the same low range as
>> a
>> > basset horn. I
>> > > have thought about constructing an extension for
>> > the alto that
>> > > would fit between the bell and the rest of the
>> > clarinet, with a
>> > > tone hole and pad. Never got around to actually
>> > making one.
>> > > Anyone care to give it a try? ---Richard
>> > >
>>
>>
>>
>> protection around
>> http://mail.yahoo.com
>>
>>
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