Klarinet Archive - Posting 000235.txt from 1994/04

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: g alto clarinet
Date: Thu, 21 Apr 1994 09:23:36 -0400

This note is being posted on the Klarinet list and is not directed
to any one person.

Christopher, re your g alto clarinet, can you tell me something about
the purpose of this instrument? Since you bought it in Turkey, I
presume that it has some purpose in a Turkish musical group, a band
or Turkish music ensemble of some kind.

The reason for my fascination has to do with the fact that there are
parts in Mozart's music for a basset horn in G and I have never
even thought about the possibility of actually playing them on an
instrument in G. But your mention of your purchase went BOING!
in my head.

The only problem is that the Mozart basset horn in G has a range
a major third lower. It's lowest note is written C sounding G.
In fact, the Mozart clarinet concerto was originally begun for a
basset horn in G but was later abandoned in favor of an A
clarinet.

====================================
Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
(leeson@-----.edu)
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