Klarinet Archive - Posting 000585.txt from 1995/04

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Tom Izzo's comments on basset horn
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 1995 12:51:48 -0400

Tom was giving a very thorough reply on the kinds of clarinets and
within it was the statement that the basset horn was "an alto clarinet
in F." And as I thought about that statement, I wound up puzzled. I
am not suggesting that Tom is incorrect, but rather questioning the use
of the word "alto" with respect to voicing in general.

It is true that, physically, the instrument falls between the soprano
and the bass clarinet. It is also true that it is, physically, quite
similar (though by NO MEANS) identical with what is referred to today
as the "E-flat alto clarinet" and whose voice falls roughly into the
alto or tenor range of traditional 4-part vocal/instrumental harmony.

But the problem is that, in Mozart certainly, the instrument is used
as the highest voice of the staff. For example, the first basset horn
is used as a doubling instrument for the female sopranos throughout the
Requiem. For whatever solos the first basset horn has in that work, they
are at the top end of the instrument's voice; i.e., the soprano end.
At no time is the middle or low register of this instrument ever
exploited in solo work. At the same time, the second basset horn is used
to double the female altos, the first bassoon the male tenors, and the
second bassoon the male basses.

In the Gran Partitta, the basset horn is used both as a soprano instrument
and, on occasion, as a tenor and a bass instrument, particularly during the
clarinet quartet of the first minuet where the second basset horn is at
the bottom of its register.

The clarinet concerto, K. 622, is certainly for a soprano voiced instrument
and was, of course, originally conceived of as a solo for basset horn in
G. Mozart changed it, but was that because he did not like the sound of
"an alto instrument" for the conception he had in mind? That would be
speculation of the most daring kind.

So the question that arises is this: what is a basset horn (i.e., a narrow
bored basset horn)?

Is it a soprano clarinet pitched in the key of F that happens to have low
notes?

Does the fact that it is pitched in F (or, alternatively, that it has low
notes) make it an alto instrument? If so, is an A clarinet a soprano or
alto instrument? Is a G clarinet a soprano or alto instrument? At what
point does the length of the instrument dictate that it is an alto
instrument?

Is it not more how composers use the instrument? No that cannot be right.
A tuba quartet would not have the first tuba being called a soprano
instrument. Nor would a clarinet quartet have the 4th B-flat clarinet be
called the bass clarinet even though it is playing a bass line.

If the bore size is the element that names the instrument, then the basset
horn is certainly a soprano instrument since the narrow bored basset horn
has a bore almost exactly the same size as a B-flat clarinet.

And if the low notes define the instrument, then is a basset clarinet an
alto, tenor, or bass instrument?

And if the mouthpiece size defines that, then the Selmer and old Buffet
basset horns are soprano instruments while the LeBlanc and new Buffet basset
horns are alto instruments. That makes no sense at all.

I really can't figure this one out. What defines the alto nature of an
alto clarinet? And does that apply to a basset horn?

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

   
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