Klarinet Archive - Posting 000126.txt from 2008/09

From: "Dan Leeson" <dnleeson@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Ridenour Lyrique bass and basset clarinets
Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:01:11 -0400

Thank you Simon. That was a very interesting post.

Let me add a bit of personal history. About 5 years before I stopped
playing clarinet, I wanted to get a pair of basset clarinets for ordinary
orchestral use. (And I had in the back of my mind getting a C basset
clarinet, too, but first I wanted some experience with the pair.)

I contacted the regular French manufacturers and was rejected out of hand.
They would, of course, have sold an A basset clarinet, but they had no
intentions of making one in B-flat. Someone in the American offices of
Buffet said that there was no literature for the instrument so why did I
want one?

It wasn't a question of cost, but rather an attempt to learn how the basset
clarinet pair (and maybe even basset clarinet trio) would work. I also felt
that if the instruments were available, perhaps composers would find it
interesting to write for them.

Bottom line, I could get none of the big three French manufacturers to make
one so I gave up.

Dan Leeson
dnleeson@-----.net

----- Original Message -----
From: "Simon Aldrich" <simonaldrich@-----.ca>
To: <klarinet@-----.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 6:51 AM
Subject: RE: [kl] Ridenour Lyrique bass and basset clarinets

> Regarding Joe's question about basset clarinets and Keith's response,
> "I don't think you need a separate complete basset clarinet."
>
> This is not an insignificant point, having only the lower joint of a
> basset clarinet that you add to your own A clarinet upper joint.
> I have a Steven Fox basset clarinet lower joint that I use when I play
> the Mozart Concerto and Quintet (in addition to pieces by contemporary
> composers who have discovered that this instrument is out there - the
> Brit Thomas Ades comes to mind).
> The feel and intonation of the basset clarinet remains similar to your A
> clarinet when you add the lower joint.
> Fox will customize the lower-note keywork to suit your preferences.
> You can also supply the lower joint, onto which he adds the extension
> with the 4 lower notes. This lowers the cost and you are assured of a
> good match of joints (if you chose a lower joint with a similar bore).
>
> For professionals this lower-joint option is preferable not only because
> one is essentially playing his own instrument when playing basset
> clarinet, but also because of the space consideration.
> I played the Mozart Concerto a few years ago with an orchestra in London,
> Ontario, Canada. I had to go to London directly from France where I was
> touring with my contemporary ensemble. In France I had my soprano
> clarinets, bass clarinet, Eb clarinet and my basset extension.
> I modified a BAM double X Light case
> (http://www.bamcases.com/wind_instrument_cases/clarinet_cases/index.php?l=en&p=3
> )
> so that the basset extension fit between the two soprano instruments
> (David Shifrin's idea, not mine).
> Having a basset clarinet lower joint saved carrying a 4th case on tour.
>
> But the more important aspect of having only the basset lower joint is
> not having a "new" instrument with its attendant different resistance,
> different pitch, different "bad notes", different live notes, etc.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> Simon Aldrich
>
> Clarinet Faculty - McGill University
> Principal Clarinet - Orchestre Metropolitain de Montreal
> Principal Clarinet - Orchestre de l'Opera de Montreal
> Artistic Director - Jeffery Summer Concerts
> Clarinet - Nouvel Ensemble Moderne
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
>

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