Klarinet Archive - Posting 000879.txt from 1995/10

From: Jacqueline G Eastwood <eastwooj@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Basset Horns
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 1995 11:47:32 -0400

Oh, the wonders of the basset horn! I fell in love with them years ago
when I was an undergrad and got to do the Mozart Requiem = Northwestern!
Never mind the fact that it aggravated my TMJ like hell, it was great fun!

Ever since then, I have been kind of looking out for horns. I know that
International Musical Suppliers lists them in their catalogue. I have
been told that Leblancs are the best, and that a C extension is more or
less necessary (some only go to Eb). IMS's prices are quite good, but I
would think that the horns would need to be special-ordered (from the
factory). They come with their own type of mouthpiece, but you can use
ordinary alto clarinet reeds on them - no special set-up required. The
horn I played on was a school instrument, and even though it worked, it
was quite a challenge due to leaks and clumsy keywork. A new or even
slightly used horn would undoubtedly be better than that one!

How incredible it would be to play the Requiem again, or the Gran
Partita, the way it was intended to sound (not with 4 Bb clarinets!!)

Let me know what you come up with if you decide to investigate this
further!

Jacqueline Eastwood
University of Arizona/Arizona Opera Orchestra
eastwooj@-----.edu

0On Tue, 24 Oct 1995, JeffBerman wrote:

> I have been listening to the two Mozart adagios and the Divertimento for
> Basset Horns +/- clarinet. They are superb, and I would like to know if
> anyone can tell me how I can find one of these instruments, how much they
> usually cost, and whether a soprano clarinet embouchure is adaptable to
> these beasts?
>
> Jeff Berman
> ---------------------------------------------------
> Jeff Berman
> Pulmonary Immunologist Extraordinaire
> Amateur Clarinetist Who Shouldn't Quit His Day Job
> ---------------------------------------------------
>