Basset clarinet, probably late 19th century.

The basset clarinet is a clarinet, similar to the usual soprano clarinet but longer and with additional keys to enable playing several additional lower notes. The clarinet is a Musical instrument in the Woodwind family The name derives from adding the suffix -et meaning little to the Italian word The soprano clarinets are a sub- family of the Clarinet family. Typically a basset clarinet has keywork going to a low (written) C, as opposed to the standard clarinet's E or E♭ (both written), and is most commonly a transposing instrument in A, although basset clarinets in C, and B♭ also exist,^[1] and Stephen Fox makes a "G basset clarinet/basset horn". A transposing instrument is a musical instrument for which written notes are played at a pitch different from concert pitch, which a non-transpositing instrument such as a Stephen Fox is a Clarinetist, saxophonist and clarinet maker based in Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada. ^[2] The similarly-named basset horn is also a clarinet with extended lower range, but is in a lower pitch (typically F); the basset horn predates, and undoubtedly inspired, the basset clarinet. The basset horn or tenor clarinet (sometimes written basset-horn) is a Musical instrument, a member of the Clarinet family

The basset clarinet was most notably associated with the clarinet virtuoso Anton Stadler (1753-1812), a contemporary and good friend of Mozart. Anton Stadler ( 28 June 1753 &ndash 15 June 1812) was an Austrian Clarinet and Basset horn player for whom Mozart wrote his Clarinet Quintet in A major, K. 581 and Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K622 for this instrument; the concerto is partly based on an earlier fragment of a Concerto for Basset Horn in G, K584b. Wolfgang Mozart 's Quintet for Clarinet and Strings, K 581 was written in 1789 for the Clarinetist Anton Stadler. Mozart 's Clarinet concerto in A major, K 622 was written in 1791 for the clarinetist Anton Stadler. The mezzosoprano Sesto's aria (Parto, ma tu ben mio) from Act I of Mozart's last opera, La clemenza di Tito, also features a basset clarinet obbligato. La clemenza di Tito (The Clemency of Titus K 621 is an Opera seria composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with text after Metastasio

The earliest record of the basset clarinet is a concert program from 1788, in which the instrument is called a "Bass-Klarinett" but from the description is clearly a basset clarinet; the term "basset clarinet" was in use by 1796, though it may originally have referred to the basset horn. ^[3]

Despite Stadler's advocacy the instrument did not become a regular member of the orchestra. During the 19th and early 20th centuries only a few basset clarinets were produced, for performances of Mozart pieces, and no further music was written for the instrument. However, beginning in the mid 20th century, interest in performing on original instruments prompted the basset clarinet's revival. The historically informed performance, period performance, or authentic performance movement is an approach by musicians and scholars to research and perform works A few modern composers, among them Bill Sweeney, Harrison Birtwistle and Alan Ray Hacker, have written works featuring basset clarinet; Joan Tower's 1988 clarinet concerto is written to be played on either basset or standard clarinet^[4] Many clarinet makers now produce basset clarinets, or extended lower joints which will convert a standard clarinet to a basset clarinet. Sir Harrison Paul Birtwistle CH (born 15 July, 1934) is a British contemporary Composer. Alan Ray Hacker OBE FRAM (born 30 September, 1938) is an English Clarinettist and professor of the Royal Academy of Music Joan Tower (born September 6, 1938 in New Rochelle New York) is a contemporary American Composer, pianist and conductor The following are lists of makers of Clarinets clarinet mouthpieces clarinet ligatures and clarinet reeds Note that some of these "makers" may ^[5]

Performers

Classical clarinetists who have recorded albums using basset clarinet include Sabine Meyer and David Shifrin. Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to mainstream music produced in or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and Secular music Sabine Meyer (born March 30, 1959, in Crailsheim, Germany) is a German classical Clarinetist Meyer began David Shifrin (born January 2, 1950) is an American classical Clarinetist. The German clarinetist Theo Jörgensmann plays free jazz on a basset clarinet. Theodor Franz Jörgensmann (born 1948 in Bottrop, Germany) is a Jazz and free-improvising Basset clarinet player and Composer For the Ornette Coleman album after which this genre was named see Free Jazz A Collective Improvisation. The British clarinetist Thea King recorded both Mozart's Quintet and Concerto on the basset clarinet for Hyperion Records, coupled together on one CD. Dame Thea King DBE FRCM FGSM OBE ( 26 December 1925 &ndash 26 June 2007) was a British Clarinettist Hyperion Records is an independent British classical Record label, named after Hyperion, one of the Titans of Greek mythology Michael Collins, who studied with Thea King, has recorded the Mozart concerto playing a basset clarinet (Deutsche Grammophon, along with a transcription for clarinet of Beethoven's Violin Concerto). He is also the soloist with the North Carolina Symphony on April 10, 2008 of the world premier of Elena Kats-Chernin's "Ornamental Air," in the form of a concerto for basset clarinet.

Joy Farrall has also recorded Mozart's concerto, quintet and trio for clarinet, viola and piano (BMG and Meridian) using a basset clarinet

References

1. ^ Albert R. Rice, The Clarinet in the Classical Period. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003.
2. ^ Fox, Stephen. G clarinet, basset clarinet/basset horn. Retrieved on 2006-11-10. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1444 - Battle of Varna: The crusading forces of King Vladislaus III of Varna (aka Ulaszlo I of Hungary and Wladyslaw
3. ^ Rice, Albert R. (2003). The Clarinet In the Classical Period. Oxford University Press, 72-73.  
4. ^ Work Information: Concerto for Clarinet, Joan Tower. G. Schirmer, Inc. . Retrieved on 2006-10-24. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 69 - Second Battle of Bedriacum, forces under Antonius Primus the commander of the Danube armies loyal to Vespasian, defeat
5. ^ Among makers of basset clarinets are Buffet Crampon ([1]), Fox ([2]), Hüyng ([3]), Hammerschmidt ([4]), Leblanc ([5]), and Selmer ([6]). Buffet Crampon et Compagnie is a manufacturer of high-quality Woodwind instruments including Oboes Flutes Saxophones and Bassoons Stephen Fox is a Clarinetist, saxophonist and clarinet maker based in Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada. Leblanc Inc is a musical instrument manufacturer based in Kenosha Wisconsin. Makers of basset lower joints include Chadash ([7]), Fox ([8]), and Howarth. ([9])

External links

• Stephen Fox (maker of basset clarinets)
• Photo of the basset clarinet