Klarinet Archive - Posting 000285.txt from 1997/02

From: "J. Lawrie Bloom" <l-bloom@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Basset horn
Date: Sun, 9 Feb 1997 15:04:19 -0500

>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 Prescott

We just did the Stravinsky Symphonies of Wind Instruments that you mention
in December, with Pierre Boulez. I played it on my Buffet basset horn, and
Boulez always asked for the basset horn when he wanted to hear something.
Larry Combs told me that years ago he played the piece with Erich Leinsdorf
who asked him whether he was playing an alto clarinet in F. Larry said he
was playing a basset horn, and Leinsdorf told him to go get an alto. Larry
went to the locker room, returned with his basset and played the piece,
Leinsdorf now content. What does this tell us?

--
J. Lawrie Bloom
clarinet and bass clarinet Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Northwestern University l-bloom@-----.edu