Klarinet Archive - Posting 000156.txt from 2008/01

From: Jonathan Cohler <cohler@-----.org>
Subj: RE: [kl] bartok/k-622/A vs. Bb arrogance/etc
Date: Tue, 08 Jan 2008 23:33:12 -0500

Thanks, Dan, for the spelling correction and the note about the
instrument's name. Yes according to an interesting article I just
found on the web (by Pamela L. Poulin):

http://symposium.music.org/cgi-bin/m_symp_show.pl?id=241

the terms "bass clarinet", "basset clarinet" and "newly invented
clarinet" were all used to describe the instrument in the 18th and
early 19th centuries. She has lots of good sources, references and
facsimiles in the article. Including, of course, references to some
of your work Dan!

--Jonathan

At 5:28 PM -0800 1/8/08, Daniel Leeson wrote:
>I always thought that the term "basset clarinet" was a modern invention, but
>Nicolas Shackelton shaped my head right when he point out two 18th century
>sources calling the instrument a basset clarinet.
>
>Dan Leeson
>dnleeson@-----.net
>SKYPE: dnleeson
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Jonathan Cohler [mailto:cohler@-----.org]
>Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 5:21 PM
>To: klarinet@-----.org
>Subject: Re: [kl] bartok/k-622/A vs. Bb arrogance/etc
>
>
>The Mozart Concerto was written for an extended A clarinet, that has
>been dubbed the "bassett clarinet" not to be confused with the
>"bassett horn" or alto clarinet.
>
>So, the answer to your question is no, an A-clarinet sounds more like
>a bassett clarinet than an alto clarinet. Of course, a bassett
>clarinet is the best choice.
>
>--Jonathan
>
>>been lurking here a year or so - here's my first post:
>>
>>>Therefore, if color is the argument for instrument choice, and only
>>>modern-day instruments are at hand, then using a modern day A
>>>clarinet to play a Beethoven C clarinet part would be a BETTER choice
>>>than using a modern day C clarinet!
>>
>>thanks for mentioning that.
>>following that logic, should one play the mozart concerto on alto clarinet
>>- at least at auditions? :) - isn't an alto closer to a basset-horn than an
>A?
>>
>>IMHO, the timbre differences between A/Bb are too subtle to support
>>any kind of historical accuracy/composer intent argument. and even
>>if a few low Ebs have to be changed or tongue-on-the-reed "lipped
>>down", who cares? arrogance? composers are are far more arrogant..
>>use the composer's score as a tool to make good music - not the
>>other way around!
>>
>>m@
>>http://sfsound.org/matt
>>
>>
>>------------------------------------------------------------------
>>The Woodwind.Org 2008 Donation Drive has started. Visit
>>https://secure.donax-us.com/donation/ for more information.
>>------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>--
>Jonathan Cohler
>Artistic & General Director
>International Woodwind Festival
>http://iwwf.org/
>cohler@-----.org
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------
>The Woodwind.Org 2008 Donation Drive has started. Visit
>https://secure.donax-us.com/donation/ for more information.
>------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------
>The Woodwind.Org 2008 Donation Drive has started. Visit
>https://secure.donax-us.com/donation/ for more information.
>------------------------------------------------------------------

--
Jonathan Cohler
Artistic & General Director
International Woodwind Festival
http://iwwf.org/
cohler@-----.org

------------------------------------------------------------------
The Woodwind.Org 2008 Donation Drive has started. Visit
https://secure.donax-us.com/donation/ for more information.
------------------------------------------------------------------