 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: donald
Date: 2012-11-11 18:05
Hello there,
last night we performed Cosi fan tutte (which i have played many times in the past). Every so often you hear the Basset horn mentioned in relation to this work- but it has always been my understanding there is no actual evidence of these parts but rather a "suspicion" on the part of musicologists (unlike the clarinet in B natural (H) part that does actually exist).
An audience member came up to the pit after the performance to tell us (a little rudely i thought) that we should be playing Basset Horns. He was so sure that I thought I should look into this- however an internet search has found nothing to suggest I am wrong.
Does anyone out there have knowledge of this- most of the principal part would sit nicely on a period clarinet, but there may be some bits in the 2nd part (which I haven't played) that would have worked as Basset Horn (though, in at least one place that would then put them in an annoying key).
Can anyone shed light on this?
dn
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2012-11-11 19:34
Over the years I have seen the Welsh National Opera perform most of the Mozart operas. In most if not all of these operas the clarinetists were equipped with both clarinets and basset horns. I can't recall exactly the line up for Cosi from the last time I saw it.
Edit.. My memory was not quite correct - have now found a reference that states that Mozart only used the basset horn in his final operas Magic Flute and Clemenza di Tito (and of course his requiem).
Prior to that it was only used in his chamber works including a considerable number of trios for 3 basset horns and for 2 basset horns plus bassoon.
Post Edited (2012-11-11 22:25)
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2012-11-11 21:07
In the aria "Ah lo veggio" there are two Ds in the 2nd clarinet part. These would have been played by Stadler on his extended (basset) clarinet. But there are no basset horn parts that I am aware of.
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Author: donald
Date: 2012-11-12 03:04
Thanks for your posts- I thought it might be a Basset clarinet bit rather than Basset horn.
Thanks dn
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Author: donald
Date: 2012-11-13 04:54
... or he had heard about the basset clarinet (might have seen a period performance somewhere? he seemed very erudite) and not understood the difference between "basset horn" and "basset clarinet" dn
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Author: Simon Aldrich
Date: 2012-11-13 05:07
In Cosi fan tutte the first clarinet parts are all of regular compass (C, Bb and A). The same goes for the second clarinet parts except for No. 24 in the second act (the aria Liquorice mentioned) in which a Bb basset clarinet is needed for the basset notes.
In the NMA the score specifies "2 Clarinetti (1 Clarinetto di Bassetto)".
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Author: donald
Date: 2012-11-13 09:37
Well it seems clear that the only "basset" bits in Cosi are a few notes in the 2nd part.
Simon wrote...
"In Cosi fan tutte the first clarinet parts are all of regular compass (C, Bb and A)"
This is of course true of the modern version, but it is not purely myth that Mozart wrote an aria utilising "Clarinet in B natural" in the 2nd act. I believe that this was... number 25? (I have returned the part so can't check)... which is these days in G major for the A clarinet, and would have been in F major for the B natural clarinet. Mozart obviously thought the B ("H") clarinet was a good idea, but it appears no one else did!
As it stands, it would appear this audience member either had his opera mixed up, or had seen/heard Cosi being played with the Basset clarinet used in the 2nd part and didn't understand that this was in fact NOT a Basset Horn.
dn
(ps- I've played Cosi for over 60 performances over the years, and this version was the most stressful, but bloomin' heck I got to hear some great singers and to enjoy FABULOUS Bassoon playing from Mr Ben Hoadley!)
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Author: Simon Aldrich
Date: 2012-11-13 12:22
"it is not purely myth that Mozart wrote an aria utilising "Clarinet in B natural" in the 2nd act."
Yes, you are right! I forgot about that. No. 25, a rondo, "Per pieta ben mio" is scored for 2 clarinets in B natural, but the modern part is arranged for A clarinets.
Thanks for pointing that out.
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Author: davyd
Date: 2012-11-13 14:40
If the 2nd player doesn't have and can't get a basset clarinet, what do they do for these low notes? Use a bass clarinet? Play the low notes up an octave? Lay out?
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