Klarinet Archive - Posting 000425.txt from 2002/01

From: Dan Leeson <leeson0@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] A bass clarinet in A. Or searching for the lost Ark.
Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2002 21:31:50 -0500

You will almost certainly not get a new A bass from any of the major
makers. Only Selmer made them and did not sell enough to continue
making them. Your only hope is to get a German one but in a French
system. Hammerschmidt will probably make one for you but you may have
to sell your children into perpetual slavery. It's no big deal.
They're only kids anyway. Alternatively, call Selmer and ask if they
will make on on special order. AFter all, they made them and have all
the tools.

Fox might make one, but he is a busy guy.

Laurence Young wrote:

> Woof. I just read the message about the bass clarinet in A that just sold
> for 5500 dollars on e-bay. My first reaction was, "THEY DO EXIST!" I
> thought like the Snipe (yes, I did Snipe hunting in the Scouts!) that the
> bass in A was an invention that older, wiser composers used to torture
> unsuspecting clarinet players. You're happily tooting along in Wagner when
> all of sudden all your notes sound like yuk. "What happened!" you think to
> yourself. "Did I miss a clef change," etc. Then you read Change to La, or
> worse you turn the page to Act. 2 as in the Nutcracker and if you don't
> check your instrument you're in for a big surprise. Anyway, my point is
> that I thought those things went the way of the Dodo. I didn't think they'd
> still be around anymore especially since you can generally get transposed
> parts from Kalmus these days (watch out though).
>
> I feel that it's a disservice to the composer if we don't play the part on
> the instrument called for. Wagner, and Ravel were very intelligent
> orchestrators and they knew what the exact sound they wanted from the
> clarinet. I feel as if I'm cheating them when I don't follow their
> instructions exactly. I would love to purchase an A bass for myself so that
> I may play the parts as written. I wish I had known about the e-bay auction
> sooner so that I might have cast a bid myself. So here's the 64,000 dollar
> question. Do any of you all know where I might find another instrument like
> this? I suppose I must start scanning e-bay weekly or something so that I
> don't miss another opportunity like this again.
>
> Larry
> "Snipe-hunter"
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> .
>
>

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

---------------------------------------------------------------------

   
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org