Klarinet Archive - Posting 000797.txt from 1998/05

From: Mitch Bassman <mbassman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: A new concept in orchestral clarinets
Date: Thu, 14 May 1998 15:46:04 -0400

At 06:37 AM 5/14/98 EDT, Dan Leeson wrote:
> [Regarding the basset clarinet,] To suggest that if such an instrument
were available
>today and composers would NOT write for it argues the flow of history.

An interesting comment! It immediately made me think: But such an
instrument *is* available today! As everyone on this mailing list knows,
the basset clarinet (at least in A) is available from major clarinet
makers. Several contemporary artists own them and have recorded Mozart's
concerto using them.

That raises the question: Has any contemporary composer taken advantage of
the extended range for the A clarinet in any new work?

I think Dan has a good point. Perhaps the next ICA composition contest
ought to encourage the use of the extended range instrument. Comments?

Mitch Bassman
Burke, Virginia, USA

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