Klarinet Archive - Posting 000284.txt from 1997/03

From: Gary Van Cott <Gary_VanCott@-----.COM>
Subj: Low C Bass Cl - When did they come into common use?
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 1997 11:39:12 -0500

Gary VanCott = NHIN
03/09/97 09:39 AM

I am looking at a clarinet quartet which has a bass clarinet part
written in bass clef. It is French and from 1937. If played as written, it
is full of low Cs. I don't believe playing it an octave higher would make
sense because of the range in general and the fact that this would take the
part up to an altissimo A.

How common were low C bass clarinets in 1937? In my rapidly growing
collection of clarinet quartet music, all the other pieces that call for
the extended range of the bass clarinet are very recent.

Gary
Las Vegas, NV

Gary_VanCott@-----.com