Klarinet Archive - Posting 000976.txt from 1998/10

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Basset Questions
Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 16:25:04 -0400

On Thu, 22 Oct 1998, Tim Roberts wrote:
> Basset clarinets are pitched in A. What about basset horns? The WW&BW catalog
> says the bore on a basset horn is exactly equal to the bore on an Eb alto. Is
> a basset horn, then, pitched in Eb?

They are pitched in F and have a low C extension.

> Is it accurate (but simplified) to say that a basset clarinet is just an A
> clarinet extended to low C, and a basset horn is an Eb alto clarinet extended
> to low C?

yes......although there are slight bore changes on these instruments.

> For those who have played basset instruments, does the longer air column make
> it more difficult to play those very low notes? Does the longer tube affect
> the sound of the horn? For example, do clarion register notes on a basset
> clarinet sound different than the same notes on an A clarinet?

Always....and if students don't have the concept down on clarinet, it
really becomes apparent on the bass clarinet and alto clarinet/basset
horn.

> And what is the origin of the term "basset"? I would naively guess the
> etymology as deriving from "small bass", or something similar. Or was this the
> name of a person?

I'll wait for Dan to respond to that one....!

RG

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