Klarinet Archive - Posting 000764.txt from 1998/05

From: Hans Petter Bonden <bonden@-----.no>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: A new concept in orchestral clarinets
Date: Thu, 14 May 1998 07:53:01 -0400

Hans Petter Bonden wrote:
>
> the bassettclarinet is impractical and heavy, BUT: it certainly has its qualities,
> among the line of bassetthorns, c- clarinets etc. which certainly is giving another
> soundpicture, soundimpression and expression , and as a soloinstrument it does add
> a lot more colores, and it is defenatly a way to express certain things more.The
> lack of volume is of course a problem playing certain music, and depending of the
> setup. ECM artist Terje Rypdal has written me a concerto which also is recorded,
> where he uses the special qualities of the instrument as an expression.
>
> Roger Shilcock wrote:
>
> > It seems likely that the basset clarinet didn't catch on because it wasn't
> > a "basset clarinet". This is a modern concept. There was no "basset
> > clarinet" around the turn of the 18th/19th centuries; there were only
> > *Stadler's special instruments*. Hence, writing for such an instrument
> > meant writing for Stadler, which, evidently, not many composers wanted to
> > do. If other *clarinettists* had liked the "basset" idea...
> > Roger Shilcock
> >
> > On Wed, 13 May 1998, GTGallant wrote:
> >
> > > Date: Wed, 13 May 1998 11:00:27 EDT
> > > From: GTGallant <GTGallant@-----.com>
> > > Reply-To: klarinet@-----.org
> > > To: klarinet@-----.org
> > > Subject: Re: [kl] Re: A new concept in orchestral clarinets
> > >
> > > In a message dated 98-05-13 08:45:06 EDT, you write:
> > >
> > > << I'm still astonished at the response that was made saying that
> > > the instrument is simply an 18th century relic. I see that
> > > as a narrowness of vision and a rejection of the concept that
> > > a player should take steps to expand his instrument's capability
> > > as far as acoustics will allow. To accept the view that there
> > > is no need for a clarinet that descends to low C is equivalent
> > > to saying that there is no need for change and improvement, there
> > > is no need for any contemporary effect (such as multiphonics) and
> > > is nothing less than the remarkable view of "things should stay
> > > as they are."
> > > >>
> > >
> > > I didn't make the basset clarinet extinct, so an attack is not necessary. I
> > > am willing to say you know tons more about Mozart than most of us, BUT...
> > > small thinking and lack of vision alone cannot be used as an excuse for the
> > > "unbirth" of the basset. Stadler toured Europe using his horns and I'm sure
> > > most composers/musicians were aware of their extended range. I'm looking for
> > > a definitive answer on WHY they died. Simply loving basset clarinets will not
> > > cut it - that is only an opinion. There have been many instruments over the
> > > years that have disappeared from everyday use (ophiclede, basset horn,
> > > cornetto, crumhorns, racketts, etc.). Throughout the history of time, musical
> > > instruments reflected the concerns and changes of the day. Most western
> > > instruments were killed for one reason - lack of volume. Although the basset
> > > clarinet doesn't fit in that category, was it possibly considered only as a
> > > novelty? If only we could ask composers of the day why certain instuments were
> > > neglected. Is Beethoven an idiot because he didn't use a basset clarinet for
> > > something? Maybe, but I'm sure he had his reasons. It would take a lack of
> > > vision to beleive Herr Beethoven - or any Classic/Romantic composer - was not
> > > aware of the existance and capabilities of the basset clarinet.
> > >
> > > A simple argument regarding the range of the clarinet, is that it already IS
> > > extended well beyond any "normal sized" wind instrument. Most winds lowest
> > > tone is only extended one or two notes below the coveted C scale. Anything
> > > more than that (as far as our modern instruments are concerned) is bonus. The
> > > clarinet could be extended to double low E, but it is impractical. I am not
> > > trying to impede your love of the basset clarinet or any other outdated
> > > instrument. I understand where you are coming from and your "lack of vision"
> > > diatribe.
> > >
> > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > For additional commands, e-mail: klarinet-help@-----.org
> > > For other problems, e-mail: klarinet-owner@-----.org
> > >
> > >
> >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> > For additional commands, e-mail: klarinet-help@-----.org
> > For other problems, e-mail: klarinet-owner@-----.org
the bassettclarinet is impractical and heavy, BUT: it certainly has its qualities,
among the line of bassetthorns, c- clarinets etc. which certainly is giving another
soundpicture, soundimpression and expression , and as a soloinstrument it
does add
a lot more colores, and it is defenatly a way to express certain things more.The
lack of volume is of course a problem playing certain music, and depending of the
setup. ECM artist Terje Rypdal has written me a concerto which also is recorded,
where he uses the special qualities of the instrument as an expression.

Roger Shilcock wrote:

> It seems likely that the basset clarinet didn't catch on because it wasn't
> a "basset clarinet". This is a modern concept. There was no "basset
> clarinet" around the turn of the 18th/19th centuries; there were only
> *Stadler's special instruments*. Hence, writing for such an instrument
> meant writing for Stadler, which, evidently, not many composers wanted to
> do. If other *clarinettists* had liked the "basset" idea...
> Roger Shilcock
>
> On Wed, 13 May 1998, GTGallant wrote:
>
> > Date: Wed, 13 May 1998 11:00:27 EDT
> > From: GTGallant <GTGallant@-----.com>
> > Reply-To: klarinet@-----.org
> > To: klarinet@-----.org
> > Subject: Re: [kl] Re: A new concept in orchestral clarinets
> >
> > In a message dated 98-05-13 08:45:06 EDT, you write:
> >
> > << I'm still astonished at the response that was made saying that
> > the instrument is simply an 18th century relic. I see that
> > as a narrowness of vision and a rejection of the concept that
> > a player should take steps to expand his instrument's capability
> > as far as acoustics will allow. To accept the view that there
> > is no need for a clarinet that descends to low C is equivalent
> > to saying that there is no need for change and improvement, there
> > is no need for any contemporary effect (such as multiphonics) and
> > is nothing less than the remarkable view of "things should stay
> > as they are."
> > >>
> >
> > I didn't make the basset clarinet extinct, so an attack is not necessary. I
> > am willing to say you know tons more about Mozart than most of us, BUT...
> > small thinking and lack of vision alone cannot be used as an excuse for the
> > "unbirth" of the basset. Stadler toured Europe using his horns and I'm sure
> > most composers/musicians were aware of their extended range. I'm looking for
> > a definitive answer on WHY they died. Simply loving basset clarinets will not
> > cut it - that is only an opinion. There have been many instruments over the
> > years that have disappeared from everyday use (ophiclede, basset horn,
> > cornetto, crumhorns, racketts, etc.). Throughout the history of time, musical
> > instruments reflected the concerns and changes of the day. Most western
> > instruments were killed for one reason - lack of volume. Although the basset
> > clarinet doesn't fit in that category, was it possibly considered only as a
> > novelty? If only we could ask composers of the day why certain instuments were
> > neglected. Is Beethoven an idiot because he didn't use a basset clarinet for
> > something? Maybe, but I'm sure he had his reasons. It would take a lack of
> > vision to beleive Herr Beethoven - or any Classic/Romantic composer - was not
> > aware of the existance and capabilities of the basset clarinet.
> >
> > A simple argument regarding the range of the clarinet, is that it already IS
> > extended well beyond any "normal sized" wind instrument. Most winds lowest
> > tone is only extended one or two notes below the coveted C scale. Anything
> > more than that (as far as our modern instruments are concerned) is bonus. The
> > clarinet could be extended to double low E, but it is impractical. I am not
> > trying to impede your love of the basset clarinet or any other outdated
> > instrument. I understand where you are coming from and your "lack of vision"
> > diatribe.
> >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> > For additional commands, e-mail: klarinet-help@-----.org
> > For other problems, e-mail: klarinet-owner@-----.org
> >
> >
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> For additional commands, e-mail: klarinet-help@-----.org
> For other problems, e-mail: klarinet-owner@-----.org

---------------------------------------------------------------------
For additional commands, e-mail: klarinet-help@-----.org
For other problems, e-mail: klarinet-owner@-----.org