Klarinet Archive - Posting 000486.txt from 1995/05

From: "<Rachel Park>" <Rachel.Park@-----.NZ>
Subj: basset horn in G
Date: Fri, 19 May 1995 06:40:33 -0400

For all those out there following the basset horn conversation, especially
Daniel Leeson and Roger Shilcock, I've found some further information
regarding the basset horn in G. I knew my honours dissertation might come
in handy in the future!

To quote from my diss: 'It is unclear whether this particlur example
[Mayrhofer c.1770] is pitched in G or F - but since G was not an uncommon
key for clarinets of this period (and there is no previous mention of an F
clarinet) and most of the surviving basset horns from the 1770-1790 period
are pitched in G, it seems likely that this was the case.'

The above information was gleaned from F. Geoffrey Rendall's book 'The
Clarinet' (London: 1971), pp. 126-127. My dissertation went on to deal
with the development of the instrument in F, so I didn't continue any
research into the Basset horn in G.

Regarding the sickle shape of early basset horns: yes, it's true! The
'basset horn' article in Groves New Dictionary of Music and Musicians has a
photograph of the Mayrhofer instrument mentioned above, which is sickle
shaped. Phillip T Young has compiled more than one book on specifications
and illustrations of early instruments. Roger, your mention of cor anglais
is correct in its parallel to the basset horns shape, this concordance is
mentioned also in Rendalls book.

And finally, to Frances regarding the basset hound connection. I couldn't
believe it when I read in the Oxford Concise Dictionary of Music that 'The
basset-hound was named after the sound it [the basset horn] makes'!
Finally an excuse to get away with sounding like a dog! However it appears
that the word 'basset hound' has been in existence since at least 1642,
quite some years before the basset horn.

Hope that helps people out, or provides more fodder for discussion.
Rachel Park
Victoria University of Wellington
New Zealand
rachelp@-----.nz