Klarinet Archive - Posting 000596.txt from 1995/09

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Mark Dunlop's response
Date: Thu, 28 Sep 1995 11:02:00 -0400

Mark does not seem to have sent his message to the board but instead to
me, so I'll post his answer regarding the kind of basset horn he has
and then respond to it below.

> From: MX%"dunlop@-----.41
> Subj: Mark Dunlop and his basset horn in New Zealand

> Hi Dan,
>
> I've been reading your posts for a long time - I sure I learn lots
> of somethings new every time I read one - this time not excepted.
>
> > ... the volcano eruption in New Zealand that has been on the news
> > for the last week.
>
> From what I can gather, the eruption seems to almost be making more
> news overseas - not that it's a minor incident here! I haven't heard
> any news today, but things seem to be getting quieter. Not many
> people live in the general area of Mt. Ruapehu ( pronounced
> Ru-a-pay-who - I've heard some *terrible* things done to that name! )
> have been evacuated, but it is being monitored very closely.
>
> There has been some impact on flights through the region, and the
> conductive nature of the ash has caused some short circuiting on
> the main power-lines connecting the northern part of the North Island
> with the hydro generators predominantly in the South Island. For those
> of you who don't know, Ruapehu is pretty much in the centre of
> the North Island in quite a large belt of potentially active
> volcanoes.
>
> Back to the horn ...
> > Who made the instrument? When (approximately)?
> It's a fairly recent LeBlanc. I can't tell you much more as the
> Christchurch Symphony (I'll *try* not to confuse everyone by putting
> C.S.O) is borrowing it from the NZSO.
>
You have what is undoubtedly a fine instrument. It is an alto clarinet
in F which LeBlanc advertises as a basset horn. We had a lengthy
discussion on this matter about 1 month ago so I am not going to go
into it again. You can look at the archives for the last 6 weeks or
so to get it all out.

In any case, the mouthpiece is an alto clarinet mouthpiece and, therefore
you are presented with a reed challenge. You must search for and find
a reed with which you can feel happy. Were your instrument to have a
B-flat clarinet mouthpiece, I would have suggested a reed at least two
strengths lighter than that to which you are normally accustomed. But
in the case of an alto clarinet mouthpiece, you are on your own.

The instrument has enormous carrying power. It is much more penetrating
than you think. Don't push.

You will not be required to play any of the special basset notes that
a basset horn must normally execute but which the clarinet does not have.
The reason why this is important is that you must learn to avoid those
touchpieces that make those basset notes active. Sometimes this is more
difficult than learning to use them. The range of the basset horns in
the Mozart Requiem is that of a normal clarinet. The first basset horn
player will have high D-s and this may require half-holing.

> > Since you say you have high notes, you must be playing first b.h.
> Actually, I'm playing 2nd - the notes just seem high when there is
> so much scope below. Was it Mozart's intention to score the Requiem
> this way, or was the decision made after his death ?

The basset horn parts of the Requiem are explicitly written out in the
first movement only; i.e., the Requiem aeternam. In the 8 following
movements that are sketched in Mozart's hand, the intention to use
basset horns is quite clear, particularly in the Recordare, but the
part is never fully written out so we don't know what his intentions
were in terms of range. In effect, the minute you start to play the
Kyrie fugue, you are playing basset horn music written by someone other
than Mozart except for a spot here and there.

Good luck. Enjoy yourself. The last professional performance that I shall
probably ever have done was a performance of the Requiem in Alaska last
Summer.

I was always surprised when people offered me money to play the Mozart
Requiem. I would have paid them for the privilege if they ever asked
me to do so.
>
> Mark Dunlop
> Email: dunlop@-----.nz
====================================
Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
(leeson@-----.edu)
====================================