Klarinet Archive - Posting 000250.txt from 1995/01

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Mahler and the A bass clarinet
Date: Sun, 15 Jan 1995 15:11:58 -0500

Linda Thomas suggest that Mahler wrote for A bass for a friend who
had the instrument.

It doesn't pass a test of reason, Linda.

First, Mahler had few friends and none of them were known to be
clarinet players.

Second, he wrote his symphonies for several orchestras and his friend
could not be everywhere at once.

Third, he will, from time to time, use the A bass just to play low
written e which was a note not available on the B-flat bass of the
epoch. So this demonstrates reason behind his choice.

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