On 7-Jun-07, at 4:35 PM, John Howell wrote:
At 3:17 PM -0400 6/7/07, Christopher Smith wrote:
And may I point out the ridiculous juxtaposition of the names
"bass trombone" which was applied to an instrument with a G
fundamental, whereas an instrument with an F fundamental suddenly
becomes a "contrabass trombone".
Never heard an F bass called a contrabass, not when there are
actual BBb contrabasses. That wold make an instrument in G, F, or
Eb a bass, not a contrabass.
Yep, that's what you would think, but no, the F and Eb are
contrabass, the G simply a bass. Don't complain to me, <I> didn't
name 'em, I only play 'em! (well, not so much the G or Eb instruments).
I've seen two BBb contrabass trombones, and played one of them.
The one in the Conn Museum had doubled slides (4 slides moving
together instead of 2), so the positions were the same as a Bb tenor.
Yeah, I've played one of those, too, for a whole year in trombone
choir at school. The manufacturer of this horn was Mirafone. Not such
a great horn, except in the bottom octave, where it absolutely OWNS!
The one I've played was at Indiana University, a Bach BBb
contrabass VALVE trombone, which was an awful instrument, very
stuffy, basically a big mistake!!
A modern cimbasso (might even be the same instrument as your BBb
contrabass valve trombone?) made to modern specifications, rather
than to historical specifications, can be a fine instrument, if it is
made properly. I hear them a lot in film scores with large
orchestras. I think mostly tuba players play them, since the
mouthpiece and fingerings are close to a tuba. I would like to buy
one, if I can find one that I think I can handle, as it plays
contrabass trombone parts better than most contrabass trombones do.
Christopher
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