basset horn

noun

an alto horn with a soft tone.

Origin of basset horn

1825–35; < German Bassetthorn < Italian corno di bassetto horn of a somewhat low range. See corn², basset¹

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Examples from the Web for basset horn

Historical Examples of basset horn

Mozart wrote several pieces for the basset-horn, and Beethoven employed it in his Prometheus overture.
The New Gresham Encyclopedia. Vol. 1 Part 3
Various

British Dictionary definitions for basset horn

basset horn

noun

an obsolete woodwind instrument of the clarinet family

Word Origin for basset horn

C19: probably from German Bassetthorn, from Italian bassetto, diminutive of basso + horn

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