Klarinet Archive - Posting 000358.txt from 2000/05

From: Daniel Leeson <leeson0@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Bass Clarinet in A
Date: Sat, 6 May 2000 17:06:11 -0400

peter.stoll@-----.ca wrote:
>
> As I notice Dan Leeson's "back in town" I'll re-post an earlier question;
> what is the origin of the above? I've noticed many composers write for
> this interchangeably with Bb/A sopranos, were there really that many
> players who had 2 basses for Puccini/Bartok etc.? If so, I'm surprised we
> don't see more of them in used instrument auctions. I remember Dan wrote
> an article for "The Clarinet" a few years ago that talked about his
> difficulty special-ordering one from Selmer, and how you could use an A
> bass to work out some of the nastier spots for Bb horns, but not the date
> of that article's issue, or if it covered the origins of the A. I'm
> assuming Puccini et al.wrote knowing that a given player for a premiere
> would have 2 instruments at their disposal (ie.for "Boheme" or Bartok's
> "Dance Suite").
>
> Thanks,
>
> Peter Stoll
> Univ.of Toronto

Peter, the article to which you are referring was my final submission to
the Clarinet magazine. It may be found in Volume 21, Nov./Dec. 1993,
pp. 52-56, and is entitled "Some remarks on the bass clarinet in A."

It offers five hypotheses about why there was such a thing as an
orchestral bass clarinet in A and supplies data and evidence that
permits me to reject four of the five hypotheses. I finally accept the
fifth which says "There is no single reason that explains the
disappearance of the A bass clarinet from the contemporary orchestral
scene in a rational way."

I have no idea if I am right, but it seems to be well reasoned. I had
not looked at the article for more than 7 years and glanced at it to
refresh my memory.

In my opinion, this question is a doctoral disseration waiting to
happen.

Read the article and if you have any questions, put them on the list and
maybe we will all learn something.

--
***************************
** Dan Leeson **
** leeson0@-----.net **
***************************

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