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Contrabass-list Sat, 1 Nov 1997 Volume 1 : Number 23
In this issue:
Date: Fri, 31 Oct 1997 18:37:29 -0500 (EST)
From:
Jack Silver <jsilver@cpcug.org>
Subject: Re:
contrabass-list V1 #22
Grant, Please feel free to post any thing I send you such as my sopranino mouthpiece conversion to E flat CBSphone. Jack
Jack Silver <jsilver@cpcug.org>
Date: Fri, 31 Oct 1997 18:44:44, -0500
From:
KUUP84A@prodigy.com (MR MARK A TRINKO)
Subject: Crystal
recording of contra-fest
Francis, what a great idea! I would do whatever it took to accomodate their employees doing this. I don't know who the contact would be. Anyone here know anyone at Crystal well enough to ask them to record the festival?
Mark
Date: Sat, 1 Nov 1997 12:34:59 -0500 (EST)
From:
PaulC135@aol.com
Subject: Re: contrabass-list V1 #22
Regarding single reed sarrusophone mouthpieces:
I have five single reed mouthpieces for my two contrabass sarrusophones. Two are by Conn, one by Evette-Schaeffer, and the others are crude-to-clever homemade versions. The Conn and Evette-Schaeffer mouthpieces are of alto shape and use alto reeds, with an interior design that severely narrows to the bocal size at its attachment to the instrument. I also have a number of Eb contrabass sarrusophone reeds that work well with my instruments.
The difference in sound between reed and mouthpiece is not all that striking, although the reed does give a slightly smoother, less burpy sound. Being a single reed player only accustomed to mouthpieces, I was surprised at how easily the double reed worked and sounded. It sounds even better when my contrabassoon colleague plays on the instrument. But for versatility, range, pitch, power and dynamics, the mouthpiece works best (spoken like a true single reed player) the tone quality not being so different.
Other players have used different mouthpieces. Paul Winter uses a soprano sax mouthpiece on his CDs (on the CD that I'm playing sarrusophone, I'm using the original Conn mouthpiece). I prefer using the larger reed mouthpiece; it appears to give a darker, smoother sound.
It is doubtful that Bechet recorded his sarruss solo in France, in that his relationship with Europe did not start until later. There is a second recording of Bechet with sarrusophone that is now availble. Remarkable playing!
Paul Cohen
End of contrabass-list V1 #23