Klarinet Archive - Posting 000185.txt from 2006/12

From: "dnleeson" <dnleeson@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Alto vs. bassethorn
Date: Sat, 30 Dec 2006 17:50:17 -0500

It is a very compelling idea, but as I indicated in an earlier
note on the subject, there is one more issue involved.
Specifically, the basset in F parts when required to be played on
an E-flat alto clarinet could conceivably result in a key
requirement that makes the performance difficult to carry off.
Notice that the basset horn is mostly in written C and F, once in
G, and one in four flats (one of the variations of the Gran
Partitta). Now how do those keys work out for an instrument in
E-flat. If I am correct the part for written C (basset in F) will
be written D for the alto clarinet. It does not appear to me that
any of the resulting keys would inhibit performance, though they
would violate 18th century rules about the keys in which a
clarinet-type instrument were permitted to perform. That may be
just living in an ivory tower, considering the circumstances.

Dan Leeson
DNLeeson@-----.net

-----Original Message-----
From: Matt Hanson [mailto:matthanson920@-----.com]
Sent: Saturday, December 30, 2006 2:37 PM
To: klarinet@-----.org
Subject: Re: [kl] Alto vs. bassethorn

Regading only low range and with timbre difference
aside, it is interesting to point out that a new
version of the Buffet alto clarinet features the low
Eb on the body now, instead of the bell. The previous
bell is still used, however, the tone hole is left
open without an actual key. It is being used as a
resonance tone hole for a "true" low Eb instead of a
"bell" low Eb.

While not a sufficient subsitute for many of us, we
know that alto clarinets are sometimes used to perform
basset horn parts when an instrument is not easily
accessable. From a clarinet playing and instrument
repair perspective, I have been intrigued by the
possibility that someone could add the necessary bell
hardware and a key connection on to this new alto
clarinet for the low D, thus resulting in the
previously missing low C of the basset horn.

Alto clarinet parts horns are indeed plentiful and the
original equipment bell key and mount could even be
acquired from Buffet directly since they have made
them that way for so long until recently. This would
leave only the fabrication of the touch piece and the
mounting to obtain the low D (sounding the lowest note
on the basset horn). Since its introduction, I have
been curious if anyone would surface, having made this
alteration to the new Buffet alto clarinet, but I have
not heard of any to date. I doubt there is a huge
market for new alto clarinets to begin with since used
instruments are quite plentiful, but it may be useful
in obtaining the missing note in the range of the
basset horn, should someone already have one of these
in their posession, especially in an environment where
a basset horn is absent or not easily accessible.
Again, timbre issues and upper range aside here. I
want to be clear that I do not consider alto clarinet
to be a sufficient substitute for a small bore basset
horn, but we know that it does happen in performance.

I'm curious, though, about the thoughts of others
regarding this fabrication possibility to achieve the
missing note.

Matthew Hanson

> > In fact, the low Eb on an alto clarinet is the
> same pitch as the
> > low Db on a basset horn, so the alto needs only
> ONE additional
> > low note in order to have the same low range as a
> basset horn. I
> > have thought about constructing an extension for
> the alto that
> > would fit between the bell and the rest of the
> clarinet, with a
> > tone hole and pad. Never got around to actually
> making one.
> > Anyone care to give it a try? ---Richard
> >

http://mail.yahoo.com

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