| An email list for
discussion of bass and contrabass instruments of all kinds.
To subscribe, send a message with "subscribe" in the subject
line to contrabass-request@contrabass.com,
or go to the subscription
page.
To post, send your message to contrabass-list@contrabass.com. See the Archive for back issues. |
contrabass-list Fri, 3 Oct 1997 Volume 1 : Number 4
In this issue:
From: Francis Firth
<Francis.Firth@uce.ac.uk>
Subject: Sarrusophone
Repertoire
Date: Thu, 02 Oct 97 12:54:00 BST
Michel Jolivet asks about repertoire for the sarrusophone. Michel, I assume that you are aware of the following piece:
Childs, Barney: The Golden Bubble for contrabass sarrusophone and percussion (1967). - Carl Fischer, Inc., 1979
If you want to get hold of a library copy you can probably find a location by searching the OCLC library cooperative catalogue (or get your library to do it for you).
Gerald Oshita has also recorded (with Roscoe Mitchell and Tom Buckner) a Prelude for Contrabass Sarrusophone, Eb clarinet and voice but I don't know if it has a published (or even manuscript) score.
What is your source of information for the pieces by Blauckemann and Casadesus? For the latter there is a mention of a piece by him in Otto Geiringer's book on musical instruments but there is no further information there. How did you find out that it was a prelude and fugue? Do you have any more information about the Blauckemann piece? Title, publisher, date?
The person responsible for the Gounod performance at IDRS 1992 was Thomas Kiefer who, I gather, now has a complete set of sarrusophones, just having added a Bb contrabass to his collection. I have his postal address at home (I don't think that he is on e-mail) and will try to remember to post it to you tomorrow if you don't have it already. He may have the reconstructed score
If you ever record any of these pieces or anything else (such as your lecture recital) , (especially on any sarrusophone other than the Eb contrabass), I should be most interested to receive a tape of them (naturally copyright would be respected).
On the subject of contrabass flutes Top Wind in London are currently advertising for sale one in C (2 octaves below the concert flute) with a low B foot made by Kotato and Fukushima. Apparently Top Wind have purchased the entire output - 3 instruments - made by Kotato this year. The cost is £15,000.00 (at present you get c. 1.6 $US to the pound so I suppose that the price would be c $US 24,000.00. Other models of contrabass flute may, I suppose, be cheaper but I doubt that it would be by much.
Your wife might be even more interested in the subcontrabass flute in G made by Christian Jager of the firm Max Hieber of Munich or even in the Double Contrabass in C made by the same firm (and descending to low D) and by Kotato and descending to low C. No doubt the prices of these are astronomic. I could certainly find out the price in Yen of the Kotato Double Contrabass but they are probably made to order and there may even be a waiting list.
I hope that some of the above information is useful.
Yours,
Francis Firth
Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 11:44:27 -0700 (PDT)
From:
Philip Neuman <neuman@uofport.edu>
Subject:
Sarrusophone ensemble
There are 20 measures of Mozart's Fantasia in Cm "Especially arranged for Six Sarrusophones" in "Kling's Modern Orchestration and Instrumentation", H. Kling/G. Saenger, Carl Fischer, 1905. One could start with that and finish the rest of it.
It's written for Bb Soprano, Eb Alto, Bb Tenor, Eb Barytone, Bb Bass, and Bb Contrebass.
Philip Neuman
Date: Fri, 03 Oct 1997 01:15:47 -0400
From:
"Farfl's house" <lederman@inforamp.net>
Subject: Re: contrabass-list V1 #3
> Old metal Leblanc contraltos are being advertised for over $3K (typically
> the "straight" model to low Eb: the newer "curved" model extends to low C,
> older curved models might only descend to D). WW&BW is listing a used one
> for about $3.5K.
Hey, anybody who wants a Contralto for $3 or $3.5 K, please contact me immediately! I'd be happy to sell them at that price ('cuz I know where to get a bunch for $1500-$2000!!)
Grant, I sincerely hope that this message won't prevent me from trying out your sarrusophone next time I'm in the Northern California area!!
-Steven Lederman
From: Francis Firth
<Francis.Firth@uce.ac.uk>
Subject: Low
Bagpipes
Date: Fri, 03 Oct 97 10:40:00 BST
The Italian Zampogna takes many forms but one of them is defintely pitched with the chanter in the middle of the bass stave and the drones, of course lower.
The chanter looks to be about 5 foot long.
I'll check my recordings of it tonight and try to provide more information on Monday next week.
Francis Firth
Francis.Firth@uce.ac.uk
Date: Fri, 03 Oct 1997 15:59:21 -0700
From: Grant
Green <gdgreen@contrabass.com>
Subject: Re: low
bagpipes
>The Italian Zampogna takes many forms but one of them is defintely pitched
>with the chanter in the middle of the bass stave and the drones, of course
>lower.>The chanter looks to be about 5 foot long.
>I'll check my recordings of it tonight and try to provide more information
>on Monday next week.
Do you know if the bore is conical or cylindrical? The length of the chanter probably includes the windcap (housing the reed), so the effective sounding length is probably a little shorter. But, at 5', a conical bore should reach down to around C below middle C, and a cylindrical bore about an octave lower (bottom of the bassoon range).
If the drones are even lower, my guess is that the drones are cylindrical (and/or folded), and the chanter is conical. Anyone know?
Grant
Date: Fri, 03 Oct 1997 16:03:02 -0700
From: Grant
Green <gdgreen@contrabass.com>
Subject: Re:
contralto clarinets
Steven said:
>> Old metal Leblanc contraltos are being advertised for over $3K (typically
>> the "straight" model to low Eb: the newer "curved" model extends to low C,
>> older curved models might only descend to D). WW&BW is listing a used one
>> for about $3.5K.>Hey, anybody who wants a Contralto for $3 or $3.5 K, please contact me
>immediately! I'd be happy to sell them at that price ('cuz I know where
>to get a bunch for $1500-$2000!!)
Only passing on what I've read. Do you have details regarding a $1.5-2K horn? Seriously, I'd consider getting a contralto if the price is right and the horn in very good shape.
>Grant, I sincerely hope that this message won't prevent me from trying
>out your sarrusophone next time I'm in the Northern California area!!>-Steven Lederman
Of course you can! Really, I don't have any ties to WW&BW (or any other shop I mention): I just happen to like (most of) their prices, and their convenience. If you find a better price, believe me, I appreciate it!
Thanks,
Grant
End of contrabass-list V1 #4