related works
Cors et cordes : pour cor de basset et orchestre de chambre, 1978 / Geert van Keulen
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Clarinet and large ensemble
Scoring:
0200 2000 cemb 12vl 4vla 4vc 2cb bh-solo
Dark Song : for basset horn and chamber orchestra / Walter Hekster
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Clarinet and large ensemble
Scoring:
bassethorn 2trb perc timp pf str
Hallelujah I : for bass clarinet and large orchestra, Movements 1-4 / Jan Vriend
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Clarinet and large ensemble
Scoring:
2fl(pic) 2fl 2ob eh heck 2cl cl-b 2cl-cb 3fg 2cfg 6h trp-p 3trp3trb trb-b tb 6perc 24vl 10vla 8vc 6cb cl-b-solo
Samen sterk : voor basklarinet en ensemble / Roderik de Man
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Clarinet and large ensemble
Scoring:
2fl(pic) cl 2sax 2h trp 2trb tb perc g g-b pf cl-b-solo
composition
Cors et cordes : pour cor de basset et orchestre de chambre, 1978 / Geert van Keulen
Other authors:
Keulen, Geert van
(Composer)
Description:
Program note (English): The basset-horn is a sporadic feature in music history, notwithstanding its characteristic sound, its technical possibilities being not inferior to those of the clarinet, and its range being larger than that of most other wind instruments. Mozart is the only great composer who used it frequently. The basset-horn's melancholic sound is coupled here with two English horns and two French horns, making a horn quintet, the "cors" in the title. The function of these winds, of which the basset-horn is primus inter pares, may be compared to some extent to the concertino of a concerto grosso. The strings and harpsichord mainly have an autonomous, chamber music-like character. Since there are also some string players acting as soloists there are five instrumental groups: 1. basset-horn; 2. the four other winds; 3. harpsichord; 4. solo strings; 5. the remaining strings. Twelve different combinations of these groups underlie the form of the piece. Most transitions of one section to the
next are so gradual that they are barely perceptible, resulting in a seemingly free form with a rhapsodic touch. Though the basset-horn really is a virtuoso instrument, its expressive qualities and special sound have been emphasized in this work. - GEERT VAN KEULEN