 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: JTJC
Date: 2020-04-30 16:42
I was listening to Beethoven’s Creatures of Prometheus on the radio the other day. It’s was a surprise to hear a basset horn in movement 14, ‘Solo Della Signora Cassentini’ (played by OAE, so I assume Tony Pay was playing Basset). I had no idea Beethoven had written for Basset Horn. Did he write anything else original for the instrument (a cello sonata and Horn sonata have be adapted)?
I searched for further recordings of the piece on YouTube and found several, including this real cracker :
https://youtu.be/PUGgzgpRJ5M
Relevant movement starts at 20:11. Never heard of that orchestra or conductor either, but what a performance. Prometheus is surprisingly good. Does anyone know who the guy playing Basset Horn solo, very stylishly, is? The Basset part is on IMSLP and this guy really brings it alive, along with the oboe.
Of the several other performances on YouTube (Mehnuin Festival Orchestra, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra etc) can anyone identify the Basset Horn players in those recordings?
Sorry if all this is old news to you all.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Clarimellonet
Date: 2020-04-30 20:59
The Op. 17 Horn Sonata was adapted for basset horn and piano by Josef Friedlowsky. Through correspondence, it seems Beethoven sanctioned and approved of this particular adaptation. Interestingly, the basset horn part is sort of combination of the cello and horn solo parts in some ways, and works very idiomatically on the classical-era basset horn.
Other than the Prometheus solo, there's nothing original by Beethoven for basset horn unfortunately. Some other works lend themselves well to adaptation though. The cello variations on "Bei Männern" work fairly well on basset horn as does the Cor Anglais part for the trio variations on "La ci darem" but there's nothing else original.
Pity.
Thomas Carroll
Historical Clarinets and Chalumeaux
http://carrollclarinet.com
lotzofgrenser@gmail.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Liquorice
Date: 2020-04-30 23:10
JTJC- the basset horn player is Michel Westphal, principal clarinetist in the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. He is a fantastic player and I think his basset horn playing on your link it outstanding. Thanks for posting.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JTJC
Date: 2020-05-01 02:38
Thanks clarimellonet and Liquorice.
Have either the Friedlowski adaptation, the cello or cor anglais variations you refer to been publish? Presumably the former is public domain.
Surprised a player of Michel Westphal’s quality isn’t more widely known (at least to me). Years ago, I was always hearing the Suisse Romande orchestra mentioned on radio, recordings etc but, for some reason, hardly at all these days, or so it seems. Had I heard more of them I probably would have come across him sooner.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Luuk ★2017
Date: 2020-05-01 14:20
Orchestre de Chambre Pelléas, Benjamin Levy, conductor. Concertgebouw Amsterdam, 9 August 2014.
Regards,
Luuk
Philips Symphonic Band
The Netherlands
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
