Klarinet Archive - Posting 001190.txt from 2003/04

From: Tony@-----.uk (Tony Pay)
Subj: Re: [kl] Mozart's Trios for 3 basset horns
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2003 00:48:46 -0400

On Thu, 24 Apr 2003 23:40:53 -0600 (MDT), AnneLenoir@-----.net said:

> Dan, is that true for the Mozart Divertimenti as well, that they should
> not be played on basset horns? The group sounds very good.

Though the version for basset horns is conjectural, I think most people
are convinced that this version is the correct one. We know that some
trios for basset horns were lost, as they're mentioned in Constanze's
correspondence with Andre'. The pieces you're talking about were first
published in 1813 by Simrock, in a Bb version for two clarinets plus
bassoon -- and in addition, funnily enough, two obbligato horn parts.
These were added by someone else, and were ditched in subsequent
publications.

So the transposition to F and the move to 3 basset horns, including some
decisions about octave transpositions, is entirely editorial. You're
quite at liberty to change some of the (dubious?) octave decisions made
by the Trio Clarone, for example, in their edition.

At least, that's what I always thought. Dan, am I up to date on this?
I have a sort of half memory of something being found in Prague a few
years ago. Or am I imagining it?

> I have never heard a basset horn before, except an A basset horn (I
> think) like the one David Schifrin used to record K-622.

Dan already responded to you on this bit. The nomenclature, 'basset
horn in A' is controversial, and I'd argue against its casual use too.
Of course, we could have called this long-lost instrument what we liked
when it was rediscovered, but it's almost always referred to nowadays as
a 'basset clarinet'.

The problem, as Dan points out, is that if you leave out the 'in A' bit
-- and even if you don't, other people might -- you risk confusion,
because the term 'basset horn', to most people's ears, *implies* the key
of F. That's true even though, as he says, Mozart originally sketched
K622 for basset horn in G.

If the term, 'basset horn in A' had been used instead, and caught on,
things would have been different, because then the use of the term
'basset horn' would have changed subtly.

> I had no idea that they sounded so wonderful in duos and trios. This
> group, The New World Basset Horn Trio, with basset horn players Lisa
> Klevit, Erich Hoeprich & William McColl. I would be curious to hear if
> anybody else enjoys this group. Now that I know they shouldn't be
> playing this music, I feel very badly for them that they went out and
> spent so much money on their basset horns.

What a sweetheart you are. No, the music is kosher, and they're all
right anyway, Annie, take it from me.

They'll be playing on period instruments too, notice. So in response to
your question about whether their instruments are like Dan's, and having
played both Dan's basset horn and a period basset horn, I'd have to say
that the difference is larger than he implied, because I imagine he was
assuming they had modern instruments. (Their name implies that a bit,
don't you think?)

That having been said, there's an original Griesling and Schlott basset
horn in the Smithsonian that I once got permission to play. Anyone who
thinks that period instruments must have been inferior in response to
modern ones would be astounded by the power and expressiveness of that
wonderful instrument. And my Griessbacher copy (even the B natural:-)
is pretty good, once you've practised on it for a few days.

Incidentally, Griessbacher is the player/maker who is thought (perhaps)
to have played these trios with Anton and Johann Stadler.

> I hope that there is plenty of "musically correct" music to play on an
> F basset horn, because I think that is the one I would want for
> myself, if I can afford one someday. ANNIE

Yes, there's really quite a lot.

You could even star in a Stockhausen opera, if you get your dancing
together;-)

Tony
--
_________ Tony Pay
|ony:-) 79 Southmoor Rd Tony@-----.uk
| |ay Oxford OX2 6RE http://classicalplus.gmn.com/artists
tel/fax 01865 553339

.... How come all the buttons keep flying off my shirt?

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