Klarinet Archive - Posting 000181.txt from 1997/02

From: Steve Prescott <mipresc@-----.EDU>
Subj: Basset horn
Date: Fri, 7 Feb 1997 14:18:27 -0500

This was written:

Incidently the previous poster asked if I'm playing a real basset horn or
a "phony" large bore Leblanc. Well, I am playing a large bore Leblanc. But
this doesn't make it an alto in F, as the basset has the extended bass range.
Although I guess you could think of this as an alto in F with 2 more notes in
the bass!

And posed this question:

I played a Stravinsky piece a while ago (for small orchestra?) that called
for F alto clarinet. I used an Eb alto (ugh!) and transposed. Does this
mean there is actually an F alto clarinet? Or did Stravinsky mean to write
F basset horn? I've never seen an F alto clarinet...is this like the purple
cow? (I hope)

Steve

Steve Prescott
Instrument Rep.Tech./ Clarinetist
Indiana State University
mipresc@-----.edu