Klarinet Archive - Posting 000548.txt from 2000/06

From: "Robert S. Howe" <arehow@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] ebay bassethorn
Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2000 06:32:40 -0400

The questions about bassett horns surprise me. I thought all clarinet
players were born knowing about this instrument, like oboists and the
English horn. I have a bassett horn, by LeBlanc. By definition, the
bassetto has a range to low C; various makers have also produced F alto
clarinets, such as Stravinsky scores for in the first version of the
Symphonies for Wind Instruments. I have used it in the Strauss Serenade
in Eb for large wind orchestra ("Happy Workshop" serenade) and the
Mozart Requiem. It is a wonderful, spooky sounding instrument for which
the soprano clarinet is a half-hearted substitute. And it is wonderful
to own; how often would an oboe player (me) otherwise get to do the
Mozart Requiem!?

Other works with bassetti are the Beethoven Prometheus Ballet (as a one
movement solo), various Mozart operas, late Strauss operas, the Mozart
Masonic Funeral Music. Not a big repertoire. Mozart writes it is an
expected double for clarinettists, for ex. the chorus that ends Act 1 of
Zauberflote is for bassetti.

I was surprised, almost shocked in 1998 to hear the Phoenix Symphony do
the Mozart Requiem on Bb clarinets. The sound is just not right.
Bassetti are easily rented from International Music Suppliers or for
that matter, from me.

Woodwind and Brasswind presently sells bassetti by all three big makers,
they go discounted for 7 kilobucks and up. So good luck on Ebay, my
friends.

Robert Howe

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