Contrabass Digest

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1998-08-05

 
list                           Wed, 5 Aug 1998            Volume 1 : Number 52

In this issue:
 

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Date: Wed, 05 Aug 1998 07:37:01 -0500
From: ROBERT HOWE <arehow@vgernet.net>
To: list@contrabass.com
Subject: Re: Cundy-Bettony

Lelia, thanks for the very helpful post regarding Cundy-Bettony.  I have
two metal clarinets of theirs: a single walled Eb, case marked "US",
like Tim described; and a double walled Bb, the double wall intended to
fill out the body to the size of a wooden clarinet and thus make it look
less geeky.  Only the Eb is in playing condition.  It plays, but (to be
charitable) I would be hard pressed to use it in place of my Selmer
series 9 Eb or a modern Buffet.

Langwell tells us that Cundy-Bettony was est. in 1907 as an instrument
importer, successor to "Cundy Music Publishing".  From 1911-16, made
Boehm flutes. 1912 began clarinets.  1914 patented the Cundy-Bettony
name.  1916 introduced Bettony flute.  1919 bought Boston Musical
Instrument Co. thus becoming largest woodwind maker in USA.  1920, made
40,000 clarinets.....1920, Bettonite plastic clarients, ***1925
re-introduced the metal clarinet to USA***, 1940 began Cadet models.
Date of dissolution is not given but was after 1950.  I have a fingering
chart for their oboe-Sax, too.

Robert Howe

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Date: Wed, 05 Aug 1998 10:28:51 -0700
From: Grant Green <gdgreen@contrabass.com>
To: arehow@vgernet.net,list@contrabass.com
Subject: Re: Side D fingering aid on Contrabass instruments

At 07:47 AM 8/5/98 -0500, you wrote:
>Grant recently suggested, regarding Sarrusophones:
>"Actually, on the Gautrot I have, the RT D opens a pad the same size as the
>altissimo D (RH1 key), and you can play the high D (above the staff) with
>either the RH1 key or the RT D key (plus the high octave key).  For the
>middle D (4th line), opening either D key is by itself sufficient to sound
>the note, but the timbre is best fingered 123 123 RTD.  It acts like an
>octave key for that single note - it won't play a decent Eb with the RT D
>key open."
>
>Did Grant mean Left for Right here?

Nope, there's a key for the right thumb, at least on my contrabass
sarrusophone.  None of the sarrusophones seem to have have extra keys for LH123
(possibly because it would be awkward, with the way the instrument is
held).  Most seem to have two RH palm keys, and a RH1 key for high
D/alternate D.  Bass and higher sarrusophones usually have all the octave
keys positioned for the left thumb (along with the low Bb key), but
contrabass sarrusophones often have the D octave key positioned for the
right thumb (at least on the horns I've seen).  If I remember correctly,
the D octave on the Buffet opens a pad the size of a "normal" octave vent.
 

>Anyway, similarly, I have found on my Pan American (Conn) bass Sax that
>to produce middle of the staff D, I am best off with side D, 123-456.
>No register key.  The side D key, intended for high D, is in just the
>right place to vent the middle D. The D thus produced is better in tune
>and has a nicer color than that produced in the usual fashion, with the
>register key.  And, in fact, you can finger ANY note, open the side D,
>and a middle D will sound, so Grant's observation about Eb not working
>is true here, too.  This trick works on EVERY Saxophone I have tried it
>on, in fact I use this fingering on my working Saxophones (Selmer Super
>Action (I) alto, Yanagisawa Soprano, Adolphe Sax Fils tenor) as my usual
>middle D when the note is prolonged and/or a special niceness of tone is
>desirable.  With practice and a relaxed left hand, it is not hard to get to.
>
>Acoustics mavens, who can explain this phenomenon (I know the
>answer....)?
>
>Robert Howe

I assume that the high D key provides sufficient venting that the tone
holes lower on the instrument have little effect on the pitch (some on the
timbre).

Grant
 
 
 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant D. Green                  gdgreen@contrabass.com
www.contrabass.com     Just filling in on sarrusophone
Contrabass email list:             list@contrabass.com
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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Date: Wed, 05 Aug 1998 14:09:45 -0700
From: Lisa Clayton <lisakc@mindspring.com>
To: list@contrabass.com
Subject: BBb Bass Clarinet

Would anybody here happen to know if I could rent a BBb bass clarinet on a short-term basis (2-3 mos) in the San Francisco Bay Area?
 

Thank you in advance!
 
 
 

------ Lisa K. Canjura-Clayton

\    / lisakc@mindspring.com * http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~clayton
 \  /  "Natural logarithms are like love.  They are beautiful, they're
  \/     irrational, and they're important."    -- Anonymous

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 01:45:12 EDT
From: <NINEWINDS@aol.com>
To: list@contrabass.com
Subject: Re:  BBb Bass Clarinet

I'm selling a low c Yamaha bass clarinet, but I wouldn't rent it. You can
contact me directly at ninewinds@aol.com

Thanks
Vinny.

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End of list V1 #52
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