 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: beejay
Date: 2000-04-01 21:51
I'm curious to know what is the difference, if any, between an alto clarinet and a modern basset horn? is it the same instrument?
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Author: Katherine Pincock
Date: 2000-04-01 22:23
No, the basset horn and the alto clarinet are not exactly the same, although they're related. The alto clarinet is pitched in Eb, and generally has a range only down to low Eb. It's used in clarinet choirs, military bands, etc. The basset clarinet is pitched in F, generally (although not always) with an extension to low C. It's used for Classical period chamber music mostly. Hope this answers your questions!
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-04-01 22:28
Actually you are confusing *three* different instruments.
Alto clarinet - pitched in Eb
Basset horn - similar to alto but pitched in F and used in a number of classical works
Basset clarinet - soprano clarinet pitched in A with an extension to low C and used for Mozart's clarinet concerto.
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Author: beejay
Date: 2000-04-01 23:06
I found the answer to my own question with a bit of researching on the Internet. I realize now that the alto and the basset clarinet are in different keys. But are they markedly different to play? Would either be user-friendly for a Bflat clarinetist?
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Author: beejay
Date: 2000-04-01 23:08
I found the answer to my own question with a bit of researching on the Internet. I realize now that the alto and the basset clarinet are in different keys. But are they markedly different to play? Would either be user-friendly for a Bflat clarinetist?
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-04-02 00:08
B J, Im afraid you are still confusing the insts. The Basset CLARINET [in A] is an extended range A clar. The Basset Horn [in F] can be "considered" to be an extended range alto clar [in Eb]. The two "pairs" have much in common, but with the increased length of the Bassets [as with the extended range, low C, bass clarinet ] and difference in bore size between B H and A C, are quite different insts. Read carefully in the Brymer etc books and the Groves Dict. for [hopefully] a better commentary. Don
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Author: Eoin McAuley
Date: 2000-04-02 22:38
The Basset Horn is a big instrument which is pitched in F, but has a narrow bore similar to that on an ordinary A clarinet, so much so that it is possible to use an A mouthpiece on it. It has the keywork necessary to play down as far as written C (sounding F). Because the bore is narrow, it sounds very like a normal soprano clarinet and gets the high notes easily, but is very tricky to get the low notes. Once the low notes have been mastered, the Basset Horn has a standard range of 4 octaves.
The Alto Clarinet is another big clarinet pitched in Eb, with a wide bore. It is more like a small Bass clarinet than a big soprano. It rarely has keywork for playing down to low C (written) and has a more limited range.
The Alto is popular in America. The Basset Horn had all but died out everywhere but was reintroduced by Richard Strauss and is making a come-back.
My music dictionary (Percy Scholes) claims the Basset Horn is a type of clarinet called a Basset (a small bass) invented by a German inventor called Horn. I don't believe this.
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Author: Todd H.
Date: 2000-04-03 01:03
Eoin McAuley wrote:
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My music dictionary (Percy Scholes) claims the Basset Horn is a type of clarinet called a Basset (a small bass) invented by a German inventor called Horn. I don't believe this.
Of course not! It is almost a forgotten fact that actually Professor Horn(teacher and mentor of both Dr. Spock and Dr. Scholl's at Colligeum aMusicum, Liepzig) did invent the Bassinet horn, which was a seldom heard infant safty audible warning device; which was used for only a few years before it too lost favor. Possibly the placement of the foot, in such close proximity to the mouth, was deemed overly hazardous to the youngsters involved.Unfortunatly, we may never know for sure.
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Author: larry
Date: 2000-04-03 19:06
And furthermore, Dr. Pepper reported that the bassinethorn was produced from a now extinct hardwood bush of the capsicum family that was also used for some time to manufacture barrels in which tabasco sauce was aged.
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