Klarinet Archive - Posting 000177.txt from 2007/03

From: "Keith Bowen" <bowenk@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Les Violiins du Roy
Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2007 19:01:41 -0400

Jim,

I may have heard the same performance in Prague (2001?) on clarinets, and
disliked it, for the same reasons as Dan!

I really disagree about the difficulty on the basset horn. Of course it
depends which edition you use (the Druce is a basset horn concerto!) but in
the NMA Barenreiter/Sussmayr, the parts are quite straightforward, not going
into the altissimo as I recollect. From memory, the most prominent solo, in
the Recordare, goes to B two notes above the stave - hardly extreme. I do
own a good horn and play it regularly, but I'm only an amateur.

I suspect it may have more to do with the quality of the horns you have
used. Communal/rented ones are often poorly adjusted, and playing anything
at all on them is a nightmare.

But I agree that one should not assume that a clarinetist can pick up a
basset horn and perform fluently on it without sufficient practice.

Keith Bowen

-----Original Message-----
From: klarinet-return-90322-bowenk=compuserve.com@-----.org
[mailto:klarinet-return-90322-bowenk=compuserve.com@-----.org] On Behalf
Of Jim Lytthans
Sent: 11 March 2007 22:22
To: Klarinet Digest (Mail)
Subject: [kl] Les Violiins du Roy

I've performed the Mozart Requiem many times, both on clarinet and basset
horn, and actually prefer it on soprano clarinet. The Basset part is mostly
in the extreme upper range, and causes my life to pass in front of my eyes
when I play the damn thing. If I owned a Basset and practiced it regularly,
the part wouldn't be so difficult to bring off. On a soprano clarinet, the
range is more natural, and easier to play. I know, I know, the sound is not
the "dark" (opps!) Basset sound. It's sort of like playing viola parts on a
violin.

I heard a performance of the Requiem in Prague some years ago, with the
Prague Chamber Orchestra. They used soprano clarinets and the performance
was stunning. And I didn't miss the Basset horn sound at all. Keep in mind
that the trombones used today are not at all like the small bore instruments

from Mozart's time.

Then there is the issue of what edition of the Requiem to use............

--------------------
Jim Lytthans
Anaheim, CA

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