Klarinet Archive - Posting 000195.txt from 2004/03

From: Dan Leeson <leeson0@------.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] reasons for basset clarinets
Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2004 21:05:40 -0500

And besides all of thes good reasons given below, there is yet another.
The character of sound produced by any clarinet is affected by
extensions, and I suggest that the effect is invariably positive. I have
both a B-flat and an A that descend to low E-flat, and though I rarely
use the notes, the character of the instruments appears to me to be
improved by the presence of the extra length wood. By this I mean to
say that I also have a pair of clarinets that do not extend to low
E-flat, and I don't use them nearly as much as the ones that do. It's
because the extra wood creates a positive effect on the sound character.

I once asked a player why he enjoyed playing everything on an A
clarinet. He did not even own a B-flat clarinet, but transposed
everything. His answer was that the extra length of the instrument (as
compared to a B-flat clarinet) allowed him to produce a character that
was unavailable to him on shorter instruments.

By the same rationale, the basset clarinet will provide a different
character of sound even though the low basset notes may not ever be
required.

David Glenn wrote:
> Besides Mozart and some modern works written for Alan Hacker, there
> are plenty of reasons to have a basset clarinet. Some, I have
> mentioned earlier on the list (Beethoven 3rd Duo, Hindemith Sonata).
>
>
> The low Eb's which sometimes occur for instance with eastern European
> or South American composers have been mentioned. But also Richard
> Strauss wrote a couple of low D's in his early Romance for clar. and
> orch.
>
> Sometimes, I will accompany a pupil playing the piano part on the
> clarinet. The extra range of the basset clarinet comes in handy.
>
> Last and least, in my sinful youth, I have arranged (amongst other
> things) some Joplin rags for three clarinets in which the third part
> has basset notes. Very handy!
>
> And if you have the thing, you'll use it and enrich the clarinet
> world like Dan says!
>
> David (bassetized on A and Bb for donkey's years!)
>
>
> what you are looking for with the Lycos Yellow Pages
> http://r.lycos.com/r/yp_emailfooter/http://yellowpages.lycos.com/default.asp?SRC=lycos10
>
>
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--
Dan Leeson
leeson0@------.net