Klarinet Archive - Posting 000354.txt from 2001/10

From: Daniel Leeson <leeson0@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: And now for some new news/basset horn heaven
Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2001 01:46:53 -0400

Don Christensen wrote:
>
> 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.

There is a low C in the first movement for first basset. The second
does not descend below low D and that is in the minuet which is played
alone by the four clarinet type instruments.

Now take me through that transposition/range problem again. The alto
clarinet is an instrument in E-flat that descends to either written E or
written E-flat depending on the maker. We need an instrument in F that
descends to low written C.

Tell me how the alto clarinet is capable of doing that? It does not
compute on my richterometer.

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