Klarinet Archive - Posting 000059.txt from 2009/08

From: Joseph Wakeling <joseph.wakeling@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Clarinets in F
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:51:35 -0400

Keith Bowen wrote:
> Müller only described his instrument as an alto clarinet, with no reference to basset horn. It appears to have been designed for band work.

I thought that was pretty much what I'd said, but maybe it needed
clarification ... :-P

There's also some info on this in a book (more of an extended pamphlet
actually) on the history and repertoire of the basset horn by a British
author -- is it Newhill? -- of which my copy is currently buried at the
bottom of a box somewhere in another country. It may have been this
author and not the Cambridge Companion that refers to Müller introducing
his alto clarinet in F as a modernised basset horn.

In the discussion of the repertoire he also notes at least one basset
horn concerto which may actually have been written for Müller's
instrument, since it never uses the notes below written E.

> I don't believe he made any contribution personally to the bass clarinet, though his system was fairly soon adopted on the bass. The main innovations on the bass were by Buffet (making the first modern-type bass, as opposed to bassoon forms) and Adolphe Sax, who made major improvements in the acoustics.

I may be misremembering here. My copy of the Cambridge Companion is
also in the aforesaid box ... :-(

Best wishes,

-- Joe

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