Klarinet Archive - Posting 000300.txt from 1997/02

From: Roger Shilcock
Subj: Basset horn (fwd)
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997 03:50:35 -0500

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 7 Feb 1997 11:53:03 -0600
From: Steve Prescott <mipresc%RUBY.INDSTATE.EDU@-----.UK>
Subject: Basset horn

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
F altos are frequently mentioned in boox, but nobody seems to admit to
having seen one. Antony Baines warns readers against purchasing one in
mistake for a second-hand basset horn (!?!?) (see "Woodwind instruments
and their history"), but *he* shows no sign that he's seen one himself.
Perhaps there were some around in early 20th-century Russia - in military
bands, perhaps?
Roger Shilcock

   
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