Klarinet Archive - Posting 000253.txt from 2002/12

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] questions about Bass Clarinet and Basset Horn
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 06:37:19 -0500

At 11:42 PM 12/10/2002 -0700, Bear Woodson wrote:
> 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?

This is correct. All the Selmer/Bundy, Leblanc/Vito, and Yamaha and other
models out there in common school use do have low Eb keys. Only a few very
old Conns that I have seen lack them. You can write low Eb's
safely. However, there are many Bundy ALTO clarinets out there that do NOT
have low Eb keys.

> 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?

That is also correct. In my travels to schools every day in my job, I do
not believe I have ever even SEEN a low C bass clarinet.

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

Extinct may be a strong word, but certainly rare, and practically unheard
of in school settings.

Bill Hausmann

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!

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