Klarinet Archive - Posting 000248.txt from 2002/12

From: Bear Woodson <bearwoodson@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] questions about Bass Clarinet and Basset Horn
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 01:42:23 -0500

Hello, Klarinet List.

I have already begun writing the Clarinet Sextet
for Professor Joze Kotar in Slovenia, and am al-
most done with the First Movement. I am writing
it for the scoring of the Slovenian Clarinet Sextet:

1 E-Flat Sopranino Clarinet,
2 B-Flat Soprano Clarinets,
1 E-Flat Alto Clarinet,
1 B-Flat Bass Clarinet,
1 B-Flat Contra Bass Clarinet.

In their case, they have the Low Concert Bb's
on the Bb Bass Clarinet and Bb Contra Bass
Clarinet. Since many American schools do not
have these Lowest Notes on their Bass and Contra
Bass Clarinets, I will insert Ossias, to compensate
for that in my Sextet.

I'd therefore like to ask a few dumb questions,
just to confirm some ideas.

1) As I understand it, most Student Models of
Bb Bass Clarinets can play the Low Written Eb,
which sounds the Low Concert Db, a Major 9th
below. Is this correct that the Low Eb Key is
common on Student Models across the USA?

2) As I understand it, many Students in the
USA do NOT have the Extended Body Bb Bass
Clarinets, that can play down to the Low Written
C (sounding to the Low Concert Bb). So then
these ARE rare among Non-Professional Players
in the USA. Is this correct?

3) As I understand it, Bass Clarinets are standard
in Bb, but extinct in A. Is this correct?

4) I am curious about Basset Horns in F. Do
they Overblow a the 12th, like a Clarinet? Do they
have a similar Fingering System as a Clarinet, or
are they very different. What do people play for
the Mozart "Gran Partita" and Requiem? Do they
use Modern Basset Horns, or do they play Eb
Alto Clarinets or either? Since I have begun work
on my Clarinet Sextet, I am writing for Eb Alto
Clarinet and Bb Contra Bass Clarinet for the first
time. Please advise. I am fascinated by all of these
sizes of clarinets, and have many questions.

Bear Woodson
Composer in Tucson, Arizona, USA
"Bear Woodson" <bearwoodson@-----.net>
http://www.fluteconnection.net/comp/woodson.html
http://catalog.lib.asu.edu/search/a?SEARCH=McGale

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