Klarinet Archive - Posting 000285.txt from 1995/02

From: Syd Polk <jazzman@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Bass Cl in Rhapsody in Blue
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 1995 12:37:15 -0500

Aside from the sopranino saxophone, mesette, and heckelphone, these don't
seem too unusual. Reed books from West Side Story:

Reed 1 - Picc., Fl., Bb Clar, Alto Sax, Sop. Sax
Reed 2 - Eb, Bb and Bass Clarinets
Reed 3 - Picc., Fl, Ob., EH, Bb Cl, B. Cl, Ten Sax, Bari Sax
Reed 4 - Picc., Fl., Bb Cl, B. Cl., Bass Sax
Reed 5 - Bassoon

Highlights include bari sax/bass sax in unison in the Dance at the Gym
and on Cool, three piccs in unison with Eb Cl an octave lower in
America, three piccs in harmony in same piece, and three bass clarinets
in harmony on A Boy Like That.

The early twentieth century was a marvellous time for weird woodwind
instruments. Ravel wrote a solo for sopranino saxophone in Bolero (it's
usually played on soprano now), Holst wrote for Heckelphone or bass oboe
in the Planets, jazz artist Sidney Bechet recorded on sarussophone,
bass saxophone was common in jazz and in concert bands, etc. It's not
too suprising that some of the more unusual instruments were represented
in Paul Whiteman's band.

Syd Polk
.