Klarinet Archive - Posting 000249.txt from 2002/12

From: Richard Bush <rbushidioglot@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] questions about Bass Clarinet and Basset Horn
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 03:15:40 -0500

On Tuesday, December 10, 2002, at 11:42 PM, Bear Woodson wrote:

> 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?
Yes.
>
> 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?
Generally, correct. Extended range bass clarinets are becoming more
common, but usually it will be professional players who own them. They
are much more expensive.
>
> 3) As I understand it, Bass Clarinets are standard
> in Bb, but extinct in A. Is this correct?
I have no idea how many bass clarinets there might be that are pitched
in A, but they are rare. My advice would be to write for Bb pitched
bass clarinets...that's if you want your music played and you don't
want people screaming at you.
>
> 4) I am curious about Basset Horns in F. Do
> they Overblow a the 12th, like a Clarinet?
All clarinets overblow to the 12th.
> Do they
> have a similar Fingering System as a Clarinet, or
> are they very different.
Modern day basset horns use the same fingering system as soprano, bass
and contra bass clarinets. I would guess that the Germans do their own
"Werlitzer" version of basset horns for playing the below mentioned
pieces. (Wonder what they must cost!!!!!)
> 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?
Professional groups or symphony orchestras go for real basset horns.
Basset horns have a distinctive tone quality that is quite different
than the larger bored alto clarinets pitched in Eb. Basset horns,
though pitched a step higher, descend to a written low C, so their
lowest notes are lower than the low Eb, which is the lowest note of Eb
alto clarinets.

Hope this helps.

> 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
>
>
>
Richard Bush
rbushidioglot@-----.com

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

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