Klarinet Archive - Posting 000329.txt from 1996/05

From: Delton Sizemore <sizemod@-----.AU>
Subj: Basset horn technique
Date: Tue, 14 May 1996 22:55:35 -0400

Having had my basset horn for quite a few months now I have been
exploring the repertoire and at the moment looking at the Mendellsohn
Concert Piece No. 2. I hope to record this with me doing both clarinet
and basset parts and use it for an audition tape.

The problem I have is with the 2nd movement where the basset horn is
required to leap from e' down to low c and back repeatedly. As I have a
narrow bore Buffet the fingering for this instrument requires both little
fingers to simultaneously hit the extra keys on the basset which require
quite a stretch at the same time as a big change in embouchure. Despite
many hours of practice I can still not make this jump reliably. It has
occurred to me that a floor stand (leg) could make this a lot easier as it
gives a lot more freedom of movement when you don't have to support the
weight of the instrument. My instrument did not come with one. Is the
basset horn played sitting down mostly ?

Has anyone else managed to master this piece ? and could comment.

What effect would it have on the performance of this piece if I cheated
and just played the c one octave higher ? I have resisted the temptation
so far ! I assume Mendelssohn had a particular reason for calling for
low c here. I also assume that the part written for a second soprano
clarinet does away with this leap as well as I can't imagine what other
changes. My edition (Breitkopk & Hartel) has only the basset horn part.

I am bracing myself for a response from Dan Leeson for being blasphemous.

Del Sizemore
Lismore
NSW Australia