What is the best substitute for the Basset Horn when once simply cannot be found? I take a look at how the A Clarinet, the Alto Clarinet, and the G Clarinet fair in playing an excerpt from Mozart's Requiem.
Stephen fox makes an alto clarinet that can go written low D meaning it can reach concert low F, therefore it can play any basset horn part, which leads me to believe that the alto clarinet is the superior choice. This is especially useful in felix mendelssohn konzertstück number one.
Alto clarinet for Mozart yes definitely. But what if you have to play Strauss? Or Mendelssohn concertpieces? Faaarrrr easier on a real basset horn than an Eb alto clarinet. Trust me, I’ve tried. I think if you need to play basset horn you simply have to ask to borrow your local university’s or professional orchestra’s instrument. There’ll probably be a hire fee, but better than using an inferior instrument with the lack of chromatic low notes and not quite the right timbre. Alto will get by in the Requiem, but not much other Basset Horn stuff!
Yes, but finding a Basset Horn is far more difficult. Mozart will be programmed for more frequently than will Strauss (and the Mendelssohn is only done when a Basset Horn is a known quantity). In my area (Dallas-Fort Worth), there are a grand total of 4 Basset Horns. Two owned by a local player and two owned by one of the two big symphonies. It's just a numbers game.
Brendan Toohey What makes it easier on a basset horn? Is the fingering totally different on a B.H.? The timbre being off seems like it would be even MORE off with an A or Bb clarinet, at least in theory.
@@MaestroTJS it's easier to play a basset horn in C major than an alto clarinet in D major. The requiem is easy enough to transpose, but try playing Der Rosenkavalier on an alto clarinet - very difficult!
I would be willing to try a 7 key F clarinet for Mozart. It's made in Pakistan, so I'm not sure how good it is, but I like the idea of having an old style clarinet. A Boehm system clarinet in G would be a good choice, unless you're skilled on the Albert system. Those are easier to find than the French style.
If you're talking about hakam din, I will vouch for him. I bought a chalumeau from him and I absolutely love it. I'm going to get a C clarinet next. The only thing I will complain about is his instruments dont use standard mouthpieces. You will probably have to take a standard mouthpiece into a music shop and have them modify it so it will fit in your instrument. I hate that a lot but I will still say that his instruments sound very very good, and overall it's a good deal even if you do end up trying to do work on it like with the mouthpiece. The mouthpieces he does make BTW aren't very bad, they just don't use cork and if the string starts to unwind then it's super annoying to deal with.
@CircuitsAnd Strings2 why do you keep trying to correct me on my channel? You realize I literally wrote the book on this subject? And no, Yamaha does not make a Basset Horn and never has.
@@BretNewtonComposer Basset clarinet A isn't inaf low for bassethorn's written low C. Also clarinet d'amour missed low f# and f natural. Eb - missed f natural, but not all of them. Fox covered entire range with low written D. Dietz alto ( Eb ?) has low written C , it is perhaps an Eb-bassethorn .
Hi Bret, I've always thought that the modern Eb alto was a band instrument with a rather ugly sound. The basset horn, unlike the dog, is in F. If you mentioned that, I missed it. Great channel. I have always been interested in ww.
The idea that the Alto Clarinet has an ugly sound is a myth perpetuated by old band directors who didn't know how to handle the instrument. In the proper hands with a good instrument and mouthpiece, it is, perhaps, the most beautiful member of the clarinet family.
@Bret Newton - Composer What is it exactly that you find appealing about the alto? im trying to get some information about it as im thinking of buying one
Yeah, I can't say I understand why they would transpose his parts to a standard clarinet when the alto seems like the most obviously-similar substitute. If they say, "it doesn't sound exactly the same," well, does the transposition to the standard clarinet sound exactly the same?! None of his piano concertos sound exactly the same either...and neither do the strings...or any of the other woodwinds...or brass (valved, now). So....
Stephen fox makes an alto clarinet that can go written low D meaning it can reach concert low F, therefore it can play any basset horn part, which leads me to believe that the alto clarinet is the superior choice. This is especially useful in felix mendelssohn konzertstück number one.
Yup. In fact, I was just talking to the owner of said instrument.
Owning a Steve Fox Eb alto with an extension is even rarer and probably just as expensive as a regular basset horn!
I did the entire Gran Partita (1st basset) on Eb Clarinet. Sounded awesome...
I am a fan of the Eb Alto Clarinet. I own one and play it when I can. It’s a Vito . I have an A clarinet also but don’t play it much
Alto clarinet for Mozart yes definitely. But what if you have to play Strauss? Or Mendelssohn concertpieces? Faaarrrr easier on a real basset horn than an Eb alto clarinet. Trust me, I’ve tried. I think if you need to play basset horn you simply have to ask to borrow your local university’s or professional orchestra’s instrument. There’ll probably be a hire fee, but better than using an inferior instrument with the lack of chromatic low notes and not quite the right timbre. Alto will get by in the Requiem, but not much other Basset Horn stuff!
Yes, but finding a Basset Horn is far more difficult. Mozart will be programmed for more frequently than will Strauss (and the Mendelssohn is only done when a Basset Horn is a known quantity). In my area (Dallas-Fort Worth), there are a grand total of 4 Basset Horns. Two owned by a local player and two owned by one of the two big symphonies. It's just a numbers game.
Brendan Toohey What makes it easier on a basset horn? Is the fingering totally different on a B.H.? The timbre being off seems like it would be even MORE off with an A or Bb clarinet, at least in theory.
@@MaestroTJS it's easier to play a basset horn in C major than an alto clarinet in D major. The requiem is easy enough to transpose, but try playing Der Rosenkavalier on an alto clarinet - very difficult!
Have you ever heard of a contrabasset-horn before?
A few Contra-Basset Horns in F were made around 1900, but few if any survive today.
I would be willing to try a 7 key F clarinet for Mozart. It's made in Pakistan, so I'm not sure how good it is, but I like the idea of having an old style clarinet.
A Boehm system clarinet in G would be a good choice, unless you're skilled on the Albert system. Those are easier to find than the French style.
If you're talking about hakam din, I will vouch for him. I bought a chalumeau from him and I absolutely love it. I'm going to get a C clarinet next.
The only thing I will complain about is his instruments dont use standard mouthpieces. You will probably have to take a standard mouthpiece into a music shop and have them modify it so it will fit in your instrument. I hate that a lot but I will still say that his instruments sound very very good, and overall it's a good deal even if you do end up trying to do work on it like with the mouthpiece. The mouthpieces he does make BTW aren't very bad, they just don't use cork and if the string starts to unwind then it's super annoying to deal with.
Why would that excerpt be played on an A clarinet when it would be far easier key sig wise on a Bb or C clarinet?
C clarinet sounds bright but yeah i think playing on a Bb would have been easier
More mellow tone and can hit lower notes.
Blows marijuana smoke on the screen
YOU HAVE A FRICKIN’ G CLARINET??????!!!!!!!!!! I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW THOSE FRICKIN’ EXISTED
It's usually played in Turkish music
2:46 nice reed...
It's a Legere. Can't tell if sarcastic or not...
@CircuitsAnd Strings2 why do you keep trying to correct me on my channel? You realize I literally wrote the book on this subject? And no, Yamaha does not make a Basset Horn and never has.
@CircuitsAnd Strings2 extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. There is no sign anywhere that Yamaha is developing a Basset Horn.
@CircuitsAnd Strings2 like I said, provide some evidence, otherwise, please stop making silly comments on my channel.
@@BretNewtonComposer
Basset clarinet A isn't inaf low for bassethorn's written low C. Also clarinet d'amour missed low f# and f natural. Eb - missed f natural, but not all of them. Fox covered entire range with low written D.
Dietz alto ( Eb ?) has low written C , it is perhaps an Eb-bassethorn .
Hi Bret, I've always thought that the modern Eb alto was a band instrument with a rather ugly sound. The basset horn, unlike the dog, is in F. If you mentioned that, I missed it. Great channel. I have always been interested in ww.
The idea that the Alto Clarinet has an ugly sound is a myth perpetuated by old band directors who didn't know how to handle the instrument. In the proper hands with a good instrument and mouthpiece, it is, perhaps, the most beautiful member of the clarinet family.
@Bret Newton - Composer What is it exactly that you find appealing about the alto? im trying to get some information about it as im thinking of buying one
Yeah, I can't say I understand why they would transpose his parts to a standard clarinet when the alto seems like the most obviously-similar substitute. If they say, "it doesn't sound exactly the same," well, does the transposition to the standard clarinet sound exactly the same?! None of his piano concertos sound exactly the same either...and neither do the strings...or any of the other woodwinds...or brass (valved, now). So....