Klarinet Archive - Posting 000613.txt from 2001/09

From: rgarrett@-----.edu
Subj: Re: [kl] Basset horns and projection
Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2001 23:21:14 -0400

At 07:37 AM 9/18/01 -0700, you wrote:
>About 10 years ago I had the opportunity to play Mozart basset horn trios
>with Dan Leeson and Tony Striplen (now bass clarinet with the SF Opera).
>At the time I was using the Selmer with my
>clarinet mouthpiece, but I was amazed at how big a sound Dan was able to
>produce on his Selmer. He said that Charles Bay had made a special
>mouthpiece for that instrument.

I simply have to comment - can't help myself.

You mean, DAN used a *gasp* large bore mouthpiece????? Holy cow!

>I was immediately curious. Charlie had bored out the mouthpiece to a much
>larger bore and used a rather large tip opening. I tried the mouthpiece on
>my Selmer and the improvements were
>astonishing.

It is amazing at the tip opening of the Bay mouthpieces. The alto clarinet
mouthpiece I have for use on Basset Horns that he made has a 2.09 tip
opening - absolutely HUGE - even compared to bass clarinet tip openings.

> Standard alto clarinet mouthpieces work well for large bore bassets
> and these are made by several makers including David Hite and Charlie Bay.

Amongst others.......!

Thank you for an informative post regarding the size bore of original
basset horns Tony. I'm saving this one.........always good to keep a good
supply of information to store with the powder!

Best,
RG

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