Klarinet Archive - Posting 000414.txt from 1999/05

From: Richard Bush <rbushidioglot@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Today's NY Times (5/4/99)
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 10:41:42 -0400

If I'm reading Mr. Garrett's post correctly, the basset clarinet and basset
horn or being confused one with the other.

I am a fan of the basset horn. I might be in a very small minority, maybe even
an aberration, because of the following view: I believe that basset horns
should be considered for inclusion in the clarinet choir and clarinet choirs
of bands. A case can be made for having an alto (viola) voice to bridge the
gap between soprano and bass clarinets. Unlike the alto clarinet, that has a
weak upper register because of its large bore, the basset horn comes much
closer in sound to that of the sopranos. What I envision would be a choir
where three or four basset horns would replace the third clarinet part. The
sopranos would be divided into two (just like the violins of an orchestra)
with the possibility of devisi writing. The top end would also have an Eb for
that dash of pepper when needed.

Such a clarinet choir might be: three firsts with one doubling Eb, four
seconds, three basset clarinets, one bass, one Eb contra-alto and one BBb
contra-bass. Thirteen good players (on quality instruments) could be a killer choir.

Now, do I want a basset clarinet just to play two pieces? Do I want to spend a
huge amount of money and also have an instrument that will require more
maintenance, be heavier to hold, and have an instrument that might (don't
know, just speculating) play very different in the normal range because of the
extended tube and all that this acoustical appendage might impart? I seriously
doubt it. I'm open to anything but I'm not flush. I think I would have to play
one--or two, or several before saying yes or no. Right now, I'm skeptical and
am watching to see if this is a fad or if it will really take hold. We'll all
just have to wait and see.

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