Klarinet Archive - Posting 000571.txt from 1996/03

From: "Lorne G. Buick" <mcheramy@-----.CA>
Subj:
Date: Fri, 22 Mar 1996 13:50:52 -0500

> I think it's very possible that Handel may have included the Basset Horn.
> I can tell you the year of composition of 3 pieces you listed:
>Giulio Cesar 1724
>Alcina 1735
>Xerxes 1738
>considering the dates I believe it's possible he could have included the
>Basset horn in the orchestration. But it's also possible the pieces performed
>could have been an altered later in his life or even after?
>Hmmmmm anyone else?

The books I've seen (Carse, Rendall, et al) seem to agree that the basset
horn was invented (developed, discovered, whatever) in or around 1770. Do
you have any evidence that one existed before Handel's death 11 years
earlier? He did write for chalumeaux and clarinets, but I've never seen
anything to suggest that he could have heard of a basset horn.

Not that I don't wish he had...

LGB