Klarinet Archive - Posting 000351.txt from 2001/10

From: Don Christensen <chr@-----.de>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: And now for some new news/basset horn heaven
Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2001 01:46:50 -0400

Using alto clarinets should actually work for the entire range. Almost all
altos go down to low Eb, which is actually a Gb (bottom line of bass clef),
being a low Db on the basset horn (in F). If memory serves (I've only
played K. 361 twice) the lowest notes in the 2nd basset horn are some low
Eb's and D's in the first trio of the first Menuet. Dan, please correct me
if I'm wrong.

Additionally, the timbre of decent alto clarinets in Eb are closer to most
modern basset horns (with wider bores - which Dan and some others prefer to
call alto clarinets in F :-)) than either clarinets or bass clarinets.
Clarinets will also not deliver the low range of course, and bass clarinets
would require beautiful playing in the altissimo register - at least to high
G - making the beautiful solo in the Adagio quite challenging, for example.

Don in Germany

on 11.10.2001 10:15, Dan Leeson wrote:

> Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2001 18:01:38 -0700
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> From: Daniel Leeson <leeson0@-----.net>
> Subject: Re: [kl] Re: And now for some new news/basset horn heaven
> Message-ID: <3BC4EF72.71AE5559@-----.net>
>
> Well, the alto clarinets will not work in terms of the low notes. You
> cannot get down to the basset horn equivalent of a low C, D, or E-flat
> on an alto clarinet. So having them does not provide you with the
> needed range. As for the sound character, if the instruments play in
> tune and if your players are competent, I can't see why you should not
> use them, but, to be frank, you could just as well use clarinets since
> the needed low notes are not available.
>
> Alternatively you could invite me to Florida and I'd play basset horn
> for you, but not in November of this year unfortunately.
>
> So if you are concerned about the low notes needed, then alto clarinets
> are not going to help you. If you are concerned about the character of
> the sound, that is very personal and you must chose whichever you
> prefer. I once heard the NY Phil. do it with bass clarinets which
> astonished me.
>
> More important to me is which edition you are using????? And if the
> answer is Kalmus you are in deep doody!!
>
> Dan

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