Klarinet Archive - Posting 000590.txt from 1995/09

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Mark Dunlop and his basset horn in New Zealand
Date: Thu, 28 Sep 1995 08:59:15 -0400

Hi Mark, welcome to the clarinet player's list and tell us something
about the volcano eruption in New Zealand that has been on the news
for the last week.

You left out an important piece of information which needs to be known
before specific technical advice about reeds can be given.

Who made the instrument? When (approximately)?

The reason for the question is because there are two kinds of
contemporary basset horns; i.e., those made by LeBlanc and the
newer basset horns made by Buffet. These instruments use a large
mouthpiece and thus, a large reed.

The older Buffet instruments and all Selmer basset horns use a
standard B-flat clarinet mouthpiece and thus, a traditional reed.

In either case, the instrument is not supposed to sound like
a clarinet. It is supposed to sound much more plaintive, or so
the belief goes about its sound.

It is said to be to music what the basset hound is to dogdom.

Since you say you have high notes, you must be playing first b.h.
Be careful in the upper register. It has a tendency to crack when
pushed.

I want to wait until I hear which instrument you have before
commenting further.

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