Klarinet Archive - Posting 000164.txt from 2008/11

From: "Dan Leeson" <dnleeson@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Basset horn vs. Alto Clarinet
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:07:19 -0500

And while I am at it, I'd like to point out that the Buffet basset horn used
to have a narrow bore. The Leblanc was always a wide bore and tuned better
than either the Buffet or the Selmer. Then Bufftet changed to wide bore for
the same reason. The intonation on the narrow bore was troublesome and it
was easier to change the bore than fix the narrow bore problem..

Selmer had narrow bore, and I owned two of them on which I used a standard
B-flat clarinet mouthpiece, though it was modified slightly. Now I think
they have joined in with the wide bore makers.All three use alto clarinet
mouthpiece.

None of the three basset horn makes I mentioned were willing (or perhaps
uninterested or incapable) to do the work needed to make a quality basset
horn with a narrow bore. Steve Fox makes one, and I owned one of his. The
intonation was spectacular, and it sounded wonderful. Every job I played on
that instrument got me kudos.

So I think your perception of basset horns is not thorough and you are
making assumptions about narrow and wide bore basset horns that need
reexamination.

.
Dan Leeson

----- Original Message -----
From: "Martin Baxter" <martinbaxter@-----.net>
To: <klarinet@-----.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 4:04 PM
Subject: Re: [kl] Basset horn vs. Alto Clarinet

> Many people think that the modern Basset Horn IS an alto clarinet as the
> early instruments had the same bore,mouthpiece and reed as contemporary A
> and Bb clarinets. whereas modern instruments have an alto clarinet bore.
> In which case the basset notes may be the determining factor.
> Martin
> On 12 Nov 2008, at 21:55, Edward Escobar wrote:
>
>> Just a quick question...
>>
>> With any modern clarinet music, mostly ensemble works, why would a
>> composer decide to write in a basset horn and not an alto clarinet or
>> vise versa?
>> I have my thoughts on the matter, but would like to hear from the masses
>> on this.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Edward Escobar
>>
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