basset horn

American  

noun

1. an alto horn with a soft tone.

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basset horn British  

noun

1. an obsolete woodwind instrument of the clarinet family

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Etymology

Origin of basset horn

1825–35; < German Bassetthorn < Italian corno di bassetto horn of a somewhat low range. See corn ², basset ¹

Example Sentences

Glendale Noon Concerts Classical works for viola d’amore, basset horn and viola by Stamitz, Krumlovsky and Haydn.

From Los Angeles Times • May 10, 2019

Eve, portrayed by Nicola Jürgensen, a brilliant player of the basset horn, is dressed in a cosmic, space-traveler costume that complements Michael’s.

From New York Times • Jul. 19, 2013

Greenewalt, who used to play clarinet, cello and the piano, now likes to tootle on the basset horn.

From Time Magazine Archive

His mother had a fine mezzo-soprano voice, and at the beginning of his journalistic career, he was a music critic signing himself Corno di Bassetto, which means basset horn.

From Time Magazine Archive

The basset horn was the outcome of the desire, prevailing during the 16th and 17th centuries, to obtain complete families of instruments to play in concert.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 3 "Banks" to "Bassoon" by Various