 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2014-01-01 14:18
Happy New Year, everyone!
It was a great New Year's Eve concert from the New York Philharmonic last night, but I have a question that perhaps one of you with extensive orchestra experience can answer. In Osvaldo Golijov's “Azul,” there is a basset horn part (very well- played, by the way). Since the basset horn isn't called for very often, who provides the instrument when it is needed? Members of a section own the standard B-flat, A, E-flat, bass, and possibly C clarinets, but a basset horn? I was curious and looked up prices--it appears that Buffet, Selmer, and Stephen Fox make them, and they're in the $12,000 to $13,000 price range.
There have been many discussions on this board about the NY Philharmonic principal clarinet position, and I won't start that one again! I haven't heard Stephen Williamson much, but his playing last night was outstanding. I noticed, though, that Amy Zoloto is still playing bass as a "replacement/extra." She plays very well, and for what's it's worth, I think she she should get the job. Does anyone know how long the Philharmonic is planning to keep this arrangement going without hiring a permanent replacement for Stephen Freeman?
Post Edited (2014-01-01 19:22)
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2014-01-01 19:55
If I'm not mistaken Amy won the Montreal or Toronto job, I forget which one was opened. So the question is, assuming I'm right, is whether or not she intends to go or if something changed since I read that. Someone else can charm in if I'm right or wrong. As far as basset horn goes, there are some players that own one, I don't know if any of the Philharmonic players do or not so they could have rented one or hired a player that is known for playing it. Whenever we needed to use one we would borrow it for Peabody or elsewhere. Happy New Year to you all.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
Post Edited (2014-01-01 14:56)
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Author: BobW
Date: 2014-01-01 14:56
That was not the New Years Eve Concert from Lincoln Center last night
but rather a replay of the New York Phil opening night gala
it was recorded September 25, 2013
Post Edited (2014-01-01 14:59)
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2014-01-01 19:57
I don't know about other orchestras, but the Philadelphia Orchestra owns at least one bassethorn - I think they own a pair, but one may belong to Curtis Institute. Instruments owned by either would traditionally be available for use by the other. The clarinetists may well have bassethorns of their own, but it wouldn't be a job requirement.
Karl
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2014-01-01 18:14
For years, Josef Marx owned the only two heckelphones on the east coast. If you wanted a heckelphone, you had to take Josef, who was a good player, if not quite NY Philharmonic caliber.
Ken Shaw
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Author: mb190d
Date: 2014-01-01 21:03
I read that Amy Zoloto had won the audition for Toronto last Spring, but that job is still open and she played with the NYPhil in this September concert.
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2014-01-02 07:35
The National Symphony (my "alma mater") owns three Leblanc basset horns; two date from the early 1960's and the third, a much better instrument, is of later manufacture. We did use all three together in a Mozart festival conducted by Christopher Hogwood back in the '90's. I know at least two free-lance players here in the Washington area who own their own bassets.
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Author: heckelmaniac
Date: 2014-01-03 05:42
About 36 Heckelphones (out of a surmised total of about 130 Heckelphones made to date) reside in North America. About ten on the East Coast...
Oboes.us
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Author: JamesOrlandoGarcia
Date: 2014-01-05 15:13
I'm going to have to get creative when it comes to finding a basset horn for a concert in the spring that includes the Mozart Requiem. Is it irrational that I want to buy a basset horn before I get a bass clarinet?
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2014-01-05 18:47
>Is it irrational that I want to buy a basset horn before I get a bass clarinet? >
IMHO that depends on whether you're looking for new or used instruments. If you're buying a new instrument, then I agree with David Blumberg that it makes more sense to go for the bass first. You'll need it a lot more often. Also, because it's less costly than a basset horn, it won't take you as long to save up afterwards for the next purchase.
But if you're buying used, then I think the best way to own the best instruments for your taste is to buy them in the order they become available. My first harmony clarinet was a pro-quality Selmer alto. It's the least useful of the harmony clarinets, but -- walk away? Pass it up? Bad karma! I also bought a contra-alto before the right bass for the right price turned up.
Carpe diem!
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2014-01-06 04:32
From memory the Mozart Requiem doesn't use the low basset notes of the basset horn and can actually be played on a soprano clarinet although it doesn't lie very comfortably on that.
Of course it should for tonal reasons alone be played on the basset horn and really on a small bore instrument like the Selmer or some German models.
However since some so called basset horns have wide bores and could be considered as alto clarinets in F then arguably you could play the requiem on alto!!
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Author: donald
Date: 2014-01-07 09:43
NZSO owns 4 basset horns- 2 older leblanc horns, 2 newer (better) basset horns made by Steve Fox. SSO has at least 2 basset horns- Buffet prestige
just for the record
dn
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