Klarinet Archive - Posting 000172.txt from 2002/09

From: "rien stein" <rstein@-----.nl>
Subj: [kl] alto clarinet
Date: Fri, 13 Sep 2002 03:24:51 -0400

At September 9, "Rebecca Brennan" <rjbrennan1221@-----.com> wrote

>>
Even though I play Bb clarinet as my standard instrument, I still like the
alto clarinet. I think there is something charming about it. Most people
hate it. What do you all think?
<<

Although playing soprano clarinet and claribass (I am going to replace that by
"clarone") I think the clarinets in between like alto and basset horn are
greatly underesteemed. Of course the basset horn was important to Mozart (jr),
but the alto parts are always rather minor. Is that caused by the sonatas
written for the basset horn being written by some really minor maestri from
Mozart (jr's) time?

Mendelssohn wrote two "Konzertstücke" for clarinet, basset horn and piano (op
113, 114), but these are rather sentimental -- which should make them wellknown
in a sentimental country like the USA. To my knowledge these two pieces are the
last independent pieces written for bassethorn, and for alto clarinet nowadays
only parts exist, that are minor in wind ensembles like the high school
orchestras. In all the works written by the brothers De Haan, Haderman and other
great composers of today, the alto does not figure, only in some compositions
from Ed de Boer they do have a small part.

But maybe some of the composers on this list may feel inspired to write
something for this beautifull, mellow (sorry, Dan) instrument?

Rien

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