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Contrabass-list Fri, 9 Jan 1998 Volume 1 : Number 87
In this issue:
Date: Thu, 8 Jan 1998 16:32:12 -0800 (PST)
From:
bj914@scn.org (John Micheal Bush)
Subject: subcontra
saxes
I just saw in the last issue, someone said that there was only one subcontra sax, and that was dismantled after one gig. Well, I know that you were talking about it on some earlier issues. I thought at least. In addition, Isaw a picture in this book of this guy with his sax garden (subcontra up to sopranino, with everything in between). I also heard somewhere taht there are two known subcontras in existence. I will look for the book I saw it in. If they ever go back into production, I would sell my house (if I have one at the time) to be able to get a hold of one. And about the ultra sopranissimo idea, wouldn't that be a dog whistle with a reed? All the hounds in the neighbourhood would collect on the lawn....
John Bush
--
Imperial Space Cowboy, Aspiring Beatnik, and high school
level musician.
btw, looking for a moderately priced
sarrusophone.
Check out my jazz/funk/blues combo
sometime!
Date: Thu, 08 Jan 1998 18:08:53 -0800
From: Grant
Green <gdgreen@contrabass.com>
Subject: Images!
OK, I now have the first two images uploaded. These are both scanned from ORSI's flyer on the contrabass sax.
http://www.contrabass.com/contra-archive/orsi-cb2.jpg is the contrabass, and http://www.contrabass.com/contra-archive/orsi-sp1.jpg is the sopranino. The contrabass should also now appear on the contrabass sax page ( http://www.contrabass.com/pages/cbsax.html ).
Enjoy!
Grant
Date: Thu, 08 Jan 1998 18:14:22 -0800
From: Grant
Green <gdgreen@contrabass.com>
Subject:
sopranissimo
At 08:26 PM 1/7/98 EST, Nick wrote:
>I am Nick Starke, and I am going to build the next Octo-contrabass Saxophone.
>I have plans made for it. Please do not go and tell me "it can't be done",
>because it can. Those companies probably spent a month to make one, and it
>was crappy. I am 13, and I have a full life ahead of me (But don't look to
>quick, I'm going on a cruise in a week, and after seeing titanc...), and I
>plan to make one that plays. Any suggestions for me, other than not try at
>all? Good, I need all of the ones I can get. I don't want to make it 15 feet
>tall (like Conn's), or with extra heavy metal (that other guy). This one will
>be made out of light metal, and 10 feet tall. Please, I know at least ONE of
How about in the shape of a sousaphone? I've always thought that if I designed one of these behemoths, I'd either coil it like a sousaphone, or fold it up more like a contrabassoon (e.g., maximum height between 4-6 feet). At 10 feet, it would be too hard to transport (not that the bell isn't going to get in the way....).
>you out there will tell me not to waste my time. Go ahead. You just won't be
>on the list when I let people play it. Anyway.......Octo-contrabass in a
>seconds. I would also like to make a "Sopranissimo" (actually, I want to make
>a sopranississississimo, but lets stay realistic).
Actually, Paul Cohen wrote about the sopranissimo several months ago (maybe a year?). Pitched in Bb, an octave above the soprano, and curved. Only one was built. It uses a reed and mpc made for an oboe (there are single reed mpcs for people who want to double on oboe without learning to handle a double reed).
>The octo clarinet? I think would float all our boats during the big floods.
>Well, I say we send a little note to LebLanc (did I mention I have connections
>there?) with all our signatures on it, saying we want them to make another
>octo-contrabass-clarinet. That might get'em to do it. I just want to play it
>when they make it. Then grant, its all yours (if u buy). Does anyone know
>how much one might cost?
Mucho mucho. Connections? Care to elaborate?
Grant
Date: Thu, 08 Jan 1998 18:26:18 -0800
From: Grant
Green <gdgreen@contrabass.com>
Subject: CBCL wave
file
I've finally made a short WAV file of the contrabass clarinet. Nothing fancy, just middle C, and a scale down to the lowest C.
Haven't been able to upload it yet, but I can email it to anyone interested. Just let me know.
Grant
Date: Thu, 08 Jan 1998 19:21:00 -0800
From: Grant
Green <gdgreen@contrabass.com>
Subject: NW
The Nuclear Whales website is now up ( http://www.nuclearwhales.com ), with sound clips and some RealAudio. Of special interest is http://www.nuclearwhales.com/billplay.htm , which shows US President Bill Clinton playing the NW's contrabass sax.
Grant
Date: Fri, 09 Jan 1998 00:16:48 -0500
From:
ROBERT HOWE <arehow@vgernet.net>
Subject: Re:
contrabass-list V1 #84
If the person seeking a contra alto clarinet will call me privately, I may have one for you. A Selmer in Grenadilla, recently overhauled and absolutely GORGEOUS!!, plays like a fiend, used in several Hollywood movies including Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree, in which it can be heard in the dream sequence.
I need to raise $$ for a curved cor anglais, else I would not offer it.
Robert howe
Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 00:41:38 EST
From: PaulC135
<PaulC135@aol.com>
Subject: Re: contrabass-list V1
#86
The Octo-Contra Saxophone was a prop made by the Conn company for promotional purposes. It was never a real instrument, and was never thought of in that way. You can see a picture and more complete description in my column, Vintage Saxophones Revisited, in the Saxophone Journal from a few years back.
There have been other props and slapped-together goofy novelties of large saxes, but these are not instruments in any sense that we recognize, just slightly larger-than-life toys.
Paul Cohen
Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 09:57:41, -0500
From:
KUUP84A@prodigy.com (MR MARK A TRINKO)
Subject:
Contra-fest, It's over!
Everyone bonded. Everyone didn't want it to end. Saying goodbye was very moving for me. The Grand Finale Concert happened, all on video. The masterclass went well. The discussions.....everything.
FACT:
ASSUMPTIONS:
Trinko will try to solicit groups and companies to host contra-receptions.Monica Fucci will provide new contra-music every year through her Argentina Contra-composers competition.The group prefers more informal jam session together (about 2 days worth). It is recognized that the IDRS function already holds enough "formal" contra-presentations. There wants to be programmed more contra-quintet, quartet, trio, duet practice time.Contra exposure to the public should focus on high school students in their schools rather than trying to attract "old dogs" to a concert. For us to groom upcoming bassoonists into contra-lovers, that is necessary.Trinko will encourage Wisconsin Lions Club to support and sponsor things alongside Marc Fink in Madison in 1999 to make it a "Lions" project. This will allow attendees to approach their local Lions Club to ask for a plane ticket or registration fee or whatever.Mark
Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 10:27:13,
-0500
From: KUUP84A@prodigy.com (MR MARK A TRINKO)
Subject: Contra-fest video ordering
$25 check today to:
Las Vegas Sundowners Lions Club
724 Straight St
Las
Vegas, NV 89110
End of contrabass-list V1 #87
