Klarinet Archive - Posting 001237.txt from 2003/04

From: AnneLenoir@-----.net (Anne Lenoir)
Subj: [kl] My short Love Affair with the Fox Basset Horn
Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2003 22:46:06 -0400

Last night I got an email from one of our list members, Keith Bowen, a
very kind gentleman from the UK, who owns a gorgeous Fox basset horn
just like Dan's. He invited me up to Denver to try out his basset horns
and read through the Mendelssohn Concert Piece for Bb clarinet and
basset horn. I had a wonderful day, and only wish that I had met Keith
much sooner. He will be back to Colorado often, and will attend the
Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival in July, where Dan Leeson will be
teaching.
I was so certain that I would fall passionately in love with the
basset horn. I had no problems at all hitting all of the notes and
playing in tune and with a good tone, even up to high C (altissimo) but
it hurt my right hand very badly, I could not use my right pinkies with
ease, and I do not have the type of intelligence that it takes to move
my right thumb around in so many ways. I'm glad that I found out before
I got too "involved". It was like a very sad and brief love affair that
was over before it ever got started. However, I did enjoy playing the
Mendelssohn with Keith, and I hope that we can find a pianist and
perform it together in the future. He is on his way back to the UK now.
ANNIE

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