Contrabass Digest
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1998-08-08

 
list                           Sat, 8 Aug 1998            Volume 1 : Number 55

In this issue:
 

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Date: Fri, 07 Aug 1998 22:22:14 -0400
From: "Farfl's House" <farfl@idirect.ca>
To: list@contrabass.com
Subject: Contra-bathroom technique

> > In real life this past February, a Tubist known by us on the Tuba list
> > was attacked in his home in Rochester NY by a drug dependant person.  The
> > victim, badly injured and bleeding from a near fatal wound, retreated to
> > his Bathroom to use the phone to call 911.  ]
> > ------------------------
> Perhaps this fellow likes the sound of his horn in the bathroom....Who
> among us hasn't taken their horn into a tiled bathroom just to hear how
> great it sounds in there.  Come on, confess!!!
>
> Jean
>

I will readily confess to taking my bass and contrabass instruments into our "tiled wing".
I say wing, as it's actually a whole area of the house, and which includes a huge
jacuzzi surrounded by tile. The resonance is wonderful!!
On a sober note, I must say that I was completely shocked and alarmed at the story
related here concerning one of our list members. My deepest sympathy goes out to
this person, and I send them my positive energies with the hope of a speedy
recovery.
I am constantly amazed at what this world is becoming. I can only hope that the
area in which the tuba player lives is somewhat seedy? Or did this happen in an
area in which these attacks don't normally occur?
Steven

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Date: Fri, 7 Aug 1998 22:06:24 -0400
From: mgrogg@juno.com
To: list@contrabass.com
Subject: Re: Contra-bathroom technique

>I will readily confess to taking my bass and contrabass instruments
>into our "tiled wing".  I say wing, as it's actually a whole area of the house, and which
>includes a huge jacuzzi surrounded by tile. The resonance is wonderful!!

When I was in music school, our favorite practice room was in the
basement underneath the theatre department.  It was a dressing room,
fully tiled along with wall to wall mirrors so you could watch your
embrochure, etc.  Wonderful sound.

>On a sober note, I must say that I was completely shocked and alarmed
>at the story related here concerning one of our list members. My deepest sympathy
>goes out to this person, and I send them my positive energies with the hope of a
>speedy recovery.
>I am constantly amazed at what this world is becoming. I can only hope
>that the area in which the tuba player lives is somewhat seedy? Or did this
>happen in an area in which these attacks don't normally occur?
>Steven

FIrst of  all, the member was from the tuba list, not the contra list.

The area was not a "bad" area.  The attacker was known in the
neighborhood and worked odd jobs as a handyman.  He showed up at the door
of the victim late at night asking for money.  When he was turned down
for that, he then asked for a ride down town.  When turned down for that,
he became infuriated and forced his way in and started beating up the
victim.  The fight continured into the kitchen, where he got a steak
knife and started slashing and stabbing him until the blade broke off the
knife, at which point he continued hitting him with the handle and stub
of the broken blade.  Victim retreated to the bathroom and locked the
door.  He also had a phone in there and called 911.  Attacker broke the
door to the bathroom, and threw a Mirafone 184 tuba at him then beat him
wiith it, then speared both tuba and victim with an ice spud.  Not
satisfied, he went off and was on his way back into the house with a pair
of scissors when a neighbor intervened and then police and EMS arrived on
scene.

The problem was not the area, but the cocaine.

The attacker is now in prison, the victim was saved by a good trama team,
and is recently back to playing, and the tuba despite all of the damage,
was restored and in all likelyhood is back in the bathroom.  I believe in
making good use of time, but I strongly wonder about keeping a tuba in
the bathroom to pass the time.

Michael Grogg

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Date: Sat, 8 Aug 1998 02:56:10 EDT
From: <Heliconman@aol.com>
To: list@contrabass.com
Subject: Square Bore Straight Cimbasso?

In a message dated 98-08-07 19:38:39 EDT, you write:

<< Let's see, 0.500 bore, 20' length: you had a straight F cimbasso ;-)
 Maybe F#...
 
 Grant
  >>

The only cimbasso I ever played (at Osmun Music) had a really stuffy sound,
but I guess once you straighten out some of that "radiator plumbing" you begin
to approach the wonderful resonance of my square bored straight cimbasso!
Cheers!
Bonedaddy@Connections.ultranet.com

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Date: Sat, 08 Aug 1998 11:07:23 -0700
From: Grant Green <gdgreen@contrabass.com>
To: list@contrabass.com
Subject: Re: Contra-bathroom technique

At 10:06 PM 8/7/98 -0400, you wrote:
>When I was in music school, our favorite practice room was in the
>basement underneath the theatre department.  It was a dressing room,
>fully tiled along with wall to wall mirrors so you could watch your
>embrochure, etc.  Wonderful sound.
 

For really amazing resonance, try a tall stairwell.  If you can find a
cement/metal stairwell, several stories tall, you can obtain a *lot* of
reverberation..........

Grant

________________________________________________________
Grant D. Green                    gdgreen@contrabass.com
http://www.contrabass.com/
Filling in on sarrusophone
________________________________________________________

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Date: Sat, 8 Aug 1998 17:48:55 -0400
From: "RJ Carpenter" <emerald1@megsinet.net>
To: <list@contrabass.com>
Subject: Composition No.1 for Bass Saxophone

Dear ContraBassers,
Well, I finally finished my first solo for Bass saxophone and piano; and I would like to provide it to those that are interested.  The piece is a one movement solo; fairly intermediate in difficulty, though it uses the full range of the horn.  I wrote this piece for the bass saxophonists out there that are starving for a piece with fast AND slow sections that does NOT make fun of the instrument.  If you're interested, a midi file should (hopefully!<g>) be posted at http://www.contrabass.com/contra-archive/basspce.mid. if Mr..Green gets the time.  (And thanks to  Grant for allowing me to use the space on his site!)  Anyone interested in obtaining a copy of the piece should contact me at emerald1@megsinet.net ; and I will get back with details for you as soon as possible.  The piece is free; though I do ask that you pay a minimal shipping and handling charge to cover postage and the manila packet.  Contributions are welcome; but not expected nor required...
Thanks For Your Time,
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Tristan Carpenter- Clarinetist, Saxophonist, and Bassist.
emerald1@megsinet.net
www.geocities.com/bourbonstreet/bayou/2048
"...music is the voice of the soul."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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Date: Sat, 8 Aug 1998 21:05:48 -0400
From: jimkatz@JohnAbbott.qc.ca (Jim Katz)
To: <list@contrabass.com>
Subject: Re: list V1 #54

>Perhaps this fellow likes the sound of his horn in the bathroom....Who
>among us hasn't taken their horn into a tiled bathroom just to hear how
>great it sounds in there.  Come on, confess!!!
>
>Jean
 

Now wait just a minute here, does this mean that there was some factual
basis to that old joke about the drunk who was sure he'd found a golden
toilet at the party....?

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

Date: Sat, 08 Aug 1998 23:58:56 -0500
From: ROBERT HOWE <arehow@vgernet.net>
To: list@contrabass.com
Subject: Re: bass clarinet volume

I have learned, both from teachers in the Cleveland Orchestra and from
simple experience, that the lower-pitched auxiliary woodwinds (English
horn, bass clarinet, contrabassoon) have much less carrying power than
their smaller sisters the oboe, clarinet, and bassoon.  Bass clarinet
players, like those of the English horn, should generally be blowing
their brains out.  Let the conductor peel you back, if he must.

As a former obstetrician, I urge you to not blow so hard during your
later gravidity, save the triple fortes for after the baby is born.  You
wouldn't want to pop your waters early....

Robert Howe MD

Jean Adler wrote:
"...My orchestra conductor and I apparently don't agree on volume.  He has
me playing at least one if not two volume levels louder than the music
indicates.  So, I am looking for a mouthpiece that makes it easier to
play louder.  I am able to get a full sound with this instrument.  I
don't want any shrillness in my sound.  Add to all of this the fact that
I am 5 months pregnant, meaning breath control will be a factor in the
upcoming months.... "

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End of list V1 #55
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