BASS
CLARINET HISTORY
The
first bass clarinet was built in the 1770's. However, composers used it
very little until the 1830's. It was around this time that Adolphe Sax,
inventor of the saxophone, improved the bass clarinet. Further improvements
came a decade later, when two French musicians named Buffet and Klose
applied the Boehm flute key system to clarinets.The
clarinet family includes clarinets built in many different keys and sizes.
Each uses basically the same fingerings, allowing clarinet players to
transfer from instrument to instrument with ease.Bass
clarinets are played in bands, orchestras, and wood- wind ensembles. They
are usually made of African Blackwood (also called grenadilla), but can
also be made ebonite or plastic.
Audio
Example:
Stravinsky: Pastorale
Good
links:
http://www.geocities.com/bassclar84/bassclarinetworld.html
http://www.new-music.org/clarinet.html
http://abohack.monroe.army.mil/masterclass/tusafb/jan2002/bc_basics.htm
