Klarinet Archive - Posting 001193.txt from 2003/04

From: Dan Leeson <leeson0@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Mozart's 12 duets for 2 basset horns
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2003 00:48:49 -0400

I state once again that neither you nor I nor David Schifrin ever heard
a "basset horn in A" as your note below states. The instrument to which
you are referring is a "basset clarinet in A." You have those two
instruments mixed up in your mind and I'm not being very successful in
trying to get this straightened out.

Second, the trios you are speaking about are a set of five for three
basset horns. There is some uncertainty about who wrote them and even
which instruments may be used to play them, but the preponderance of
musicological thinking is that they are by Mozart and they are for three
basset horns. For years they were published in an arrangement for two
clarinets and bassoon and which work nicely, but there are historial
reasons that suggest this to be the incorrect instrumentation.

Finally this: I can't understand what you mean when you wrote, "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. 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."

What makes you think that the trio "shouldn't be playing this music"? Of
course they should be playing these trios since they were almost
certainly written for 3 basset horns.

One of us is very confused about basset horns in F, basset clarinets in
A, and Mozart's repertoire for these instruments.

Dan

Anne Lenoir wrote:
> Dan, is that true for the Mozart Divertimenti as well, that they should
> not be played on basset horns? The group sounds very good. 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. 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. 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
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> Klarinet is supported by Woodwind.Org, http://www.woodwind.org/
>
>

--
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**Dan Leeson **
**leeson0@-----.net **
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Klarinet is supported by Woodwind.Org, http://www.woodwind.org/