Klarinet Archive - Posting 000358.txt from 2005/06

From: "Dan Leeson" <dnleeson@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Basset clarinets are regular orchestral instruments
Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2005 18:29:36 -0400

Simon, I'm having trouble understanding what you are saying. It is not that
you are saying it badly, only that you are making the matter far more
complicated than the situation really is.

We are talking about 4 more inches of wood and another four keys (or perhaps
five if there are alternate fingerings supplied) along with the rods and pad
cups need for proper execution. Now how much heavier is that in real terms?

And your remarks about wanting to use the basset clarinet only when you
needed the lower notes is an idea that completely escapes me. I once had a
clarinet that went down to low e-flat. I think I used that note maybe once
every 5 years, but the wood needed for the execution of that extra note had
a distinctly positive effect on the instrument even when the note was not
being played.

By the same token, and referring to a subject that was discussed earlier, I
had a bass clarinet that went down to low c, and I used that note maybe once
every six months, though others have reported using it far more frequently.
So why did I not use a b.c. without those notes and take up one with them
only when those notes were needed?

I think that the fact of your only playing clarinet for three years is
giving you a very narrow perspective on what clarinets should do, and what
you want of them.

DNL

-----Original Message-----
From: Simon Peerless [mailto:s.peerless@-----.uk]
Sent: Monday, June 20, 2005 8:38 AM
To: klarinet@-----.org
Subject: RE: [kl] Basset clarinets are regular orchestral instruments

The Buffet website lists both basset clarinet and basset horn - see
http://www.buffet-crampon.com/instruments_main.asp?cat=10

With the description that reads, in part:
'Descending to low C, this clarinet is especially designed to perform
the Mozart Concerto in its original version. Contemporary composers have
even included it in their own works.'

I've only been learning the clarinet for three years or so, so my
comments are not backed by much experience, but when I had the brief
opportunity to handle and play a basset clarinet I was surprised by how
much heavier and more unwieldy it was - the extra weight and length made
for a much less well balanced instrument. No doubt this is something you
get used to, but I would have thought that the feel of the instrument in
your hands whilst playing is important - and so you would only want to
use the basset clarinet if you actually needed the lower notes. But
perhaps with more experience the 'feel' of the instrument is less
significant.

Simon Peerless

-----Original Message-----
From: Joseph Wakeling [mailto:joseph.wakeling@-----.net]
Sent: 20 June 2005 14:36
To: klarinet@-----.org
Subject: Re: [kl] Basset clarinets are regular orchestral instruments

Dan Leeson wrote:

> I'd like to restate what caused my call to action. I picked up the
> Buffet catalog at the Norman, OK convention, and there were six models

> of clarinets (perhaps more, I didn't count carefully but certainly
> six), from the highrest price professional clarinets to the more
> modest ones for student use. There were no basset horns OR basset
> clarinets present.

Just to be sure---Buffet has two different catalogues, one for the
soprano clarinets (Bb, A, C, Eb and D) and one for the "harmony"
instruments which were, last time I looked (which was some time ago)
basset clarinet in A, basset horn, bass clarinet and contra-alto
clarinet. You're sure you didn't just have the wrong catalogue?

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