Klarinet Archive - Posting 000191.txt from 2006/12

From: Laurence Beckhardt <lbeckhardt@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Alto vs. bassethorn
Date: Sat, 30 Dec 2006 22:10:46 -0500

all points well taken and given

interesting that Hammerschmidt makes a small bore bass
- I understand that their sopranos are made with bores
on the larger size.

--- Matt Hanson <matthanson920@-----.com> wrote:

>
> I apologize if I did not make myself clear. I do
> appreciate your response, but I'm afraid you may
> have
> missed my point and accidentally read something
> different into it. My vague point in the part you
> quoted was in regard to the timbre differences,
> which
> has been some of our debate here. I tried to avoid
> going on about timbre in my post, but my own
> preference is that of Mr. Leeson -- small bore w/
> clarinet mpc, not large bore w/ alto mpc. That was
> all I meant, but didn't want to go into all of that
> at
> length since my main topic was the new Buffet alto
> in
> regard to low range.
>
> Also, please understand that I am not anti-alto. I
> actually own two. It is, though, my own
> *preference*
> to not use alto clarinet (or large bore basset horn
> with alto mpc for that matter) as a substitution for
> a
> small bore basset horn, (again echoing Mr. Leeson).
>
>
> Apart from the huge bore, I mainly do not like using
> an alto mpc on basset horn. I'm not the first here
> to
> say that. As I pointed out in my post from which
> you
> quoted, I understand that performances have and will
> be done on alto instead of basset horn. It simply is
> not my preference to do so and you misunderstood
> that.
> I have apparently attempted to summarize my points
> and ideas too briefly in regard to what could work
> well for others. I will try to be more clear next
> time, but with that in mind, I do tend to get long
> winded. :)
>
> On another note, you do seem to have more interest
> in
> criticising me for why bore size matters to me and
> that I am being "cliche" for having an opinion or
> preference at all. Who is really guilty of falling
> ill of "conventional wisdom" here? You say," The
> simple minded fixation on bore size reveals more
> about
> Matt than about the basset horn or alto
> clarinet." I am very proud of the fact that
> clarinet
> bore size is important to me, whether it be as you
> say, a "simple minded fixation" or not. I am quite
> surprised that you imply that it is unimportant,
> especially since it has been of some relevance in
> the
> difference schools of clarinet playing and the
> history
> of the instrument in general (but that is a separate
> topic).
>
> I will go on to say that I use a Hammerschmidt bass
> clarinet that possesses a bore size smaller than
> most
> alto clarinets and while I don't use it in band, I
> love its sweet, intimate and expressive timbre for
> solo and chamber work. Does that really make me
> "cliche"? If so, then cliche I am, and proud of it.
>
> Does it, as you say, reveal more about me? Of
> course
> it does. We should all use what works best for us.
>
> Respectfully,
>
> Matthew Hanson
>
>
> --- Laurence Beckhardt <lbeckhardt@-----.net>
> wrote:
>
> > Matt makes a thoughtful contribution to this
> > interesting discussion, up to a point. He lapses
> > into
> > cliche and ill considered conventional wisdom with
> > this statement:
> >
> > "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."
> >
> > The simple minded fixation on bore size reveals
> more
> > about Matt than about the basset horn or alto
> > clarinet.
> >
> > Happy new year!
> >
> >
> > --- Matt Hanson <matthanson920@-----.com> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > 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
>
=== message truncated ===

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