Klarinet Archive - Posting 000542.txt from 1998/05

From: Shouryu Nohe <jnohe@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] C Clarinets, and mixups
Date: Mon, 11 May 1998 15:36:42 -0400

On Mon, 11 May 1998, Matthew Hanson wrote:
> Since my A clarinet has a low Eb, I never have a mixup. It is so much
> taller. Buying a basset A clarinet only to prevent a mixup? :)

Not at all. I plan on performing solo material, and I plan on doing it
right. Since it's now possible to play the Mozart in the correct
tessatura (because we now have bassets), I plan on doing it in the correct
tessatura. And I would like to play the Mozart before I graduate (if I'm
good enough...and I realize Dr. Borchert is probably rolling his eyes at
the moment), but I plan on doing it right.

I figure, if I'm going to buy a basset, which is nothing more than an A
clarinet with an extra minor third...why spend another two or three grand
for a regular A, when the basset 'll do me fine?

> They are
> so heavy without a peg. I don't like to use a peg on A basset and a neck
> strap feels weird since there is no crook on the instrument. I use
> basset A clarinet as rarely as I can get away with for these reasons. I
> couldn't imagine picking up a basset clarinet every time I needed an A.

Not a concern for me. I've marched Bari Sax, Bass Cl, and Alto sax, and
there's always at least one occasion when I get out the horn and realize
that the neck strap is on the bed at home. If I can march a bari sax for
a day without a strap, I figure a performance with a basset won't kill me.
And I can adjust to a neck strap, crook or no crook...I figure if Schifrin
can do all of K622 w/o a neck strap, I can survive playing anything with
one.

It's a minor issue - you're motivated by the comfort of your thumb or
neck. I'm motivated by the discomfort of my wallet. ^_^

Shouryu Nohe
Professor of SCSM102, New Mexico State Univ.
http://web.nmsu.edu/~jnohe; ICQ 6771552
Coffee Drinker, Musician, Otaku, Jesus Freak, Admirer of Women
(Not necessarily in that order)
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Don't worry - I pulled some large bills from my account, so everything's
covered!" - Katsuragi Misato
*of course...now I'm broke...*

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