Klarinet Archive - Posting 000852.txt from 1997/10

From: "Lou Polcari" <polcari@-----.net>
Subj: Re: Looking for Bass Clarinet in A
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 1997 00:09:28 -0400

>> To my knowledge, Buffet does not manufacture an A Bass Clarinet. In
fact,
>> I am unaware of any professional clarinet manufacturer who is currently
>> marketing an A Bass Clarinet. I could be wrong.....other opinions?
>>
>> Roger Garrett
>
>I think I must agree. I bought and played and A bass for a number of
>years and sold it when I retired. At the time I bought it, it was
>a catalog item from Selmer (but only to low E-flat). I was advised
>shortly after I bought it, that they stopped making them.
>
>You might consider requesting if they will make one to order but
>clearly that is not within your schedule. I loved the bass in
>A. Every time I played it I thought itsounded like fudge.
>(That does not mean it did sound like fudge, only that I thought
>of it in that respect.)

>>
>> On Tue, 21 Oct 1997, Lou Polcari wrote:
>>
>> > I would be interested in finding a Buffet Bass Clarinet, preferably in
A,
>> > for a symphony gig. I am in California, near Santa Barbara and would be
>> > willing to lease a professional model. Please email be privately at:
>> >
>> > polcari@-----.net

Thank you for the reply Dan and Roger, the part is calling for an A clarinet
and indeed calls for the instrument to play a low A ruling out the Bb bass
clarinet transposing. Aside from that I can only assume that the composer
had the A bass clarinet in mind when writing the score and it was not done
for the tonal convenience of the clarinetist. I would love to play an A
bass clarinet and can only imagine the wonderful tone it would produce.

Thank you again for you input.

Lou Polcari
polcari@-----.net