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Date: Fri, 26 Mar 1999 18:10:08 -0600
From: "William J. Dawson" <w-dawson@nwu.edu>
Subject: Re: Contrabass agility
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.comTo the list members,
I'd like to add my $0.02 worth on this thread, and from a medical standpoint. As a hand surgeon, specialist in performing arts medicine and a 50+ year player of bassoon/contra, clarinets and saxophones, I must agree
with Grant's statement about less agility in playing on the lower family members. Having measured ranges and arcs of finger motion of performers on all these instruments, I determined that:
- Larger instruments generally require the performer's fingers to be more widely spaced than the smaller ones; this requires extra muscle activity to maintain these wider spans.
- Depressing most keys on larger instruments requires a larger range of finger motion than in the smaller (higher) ones.
- The keywork neede to operate larger instruments is progressively more complex and slower to respond to finger pressure.
- Lower-voiced instruments have longer tubing and thus take more time for an initial note to speak. Once this impediment is ovecome, and the performer's air column continues to force air across the reed (or flute mouthpiece), there should be little, if any, difference, in the rapidity of notes from a respiratory standpoint.
All three factors seem to add up to the fact that playing many notes per second on low instruments, especially if the notes are not diatonically (scale) related, is more cumbersome, and requires greater ranges of finger motion and of muscular strength. As such, less facility is to be expected (compare "Clarinet Polka" as played on B-flat clarinet and contrabassoon, for example).Hope this information helps.
Dr. Bill Dawson
Board member, Performing Arts Medicine Association
Bassoon/contra/etc. -- Chicago area groups
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Date: Fri, 26 Mar 1999 16:42:34 -0800
From: Grant Green <gdgreen@contrabass.com>
Subject: Bass Sax FS
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.comGee, its been a few days. But, here's the latest bass sax up for auction
at eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=83150991.
Starting bid is $3500, and there's apparently a reserve set somewhat higher.I've noticed a few old Conn saxophones recently as well, that appear to be
high-pitch instruments. If I remember right, the horns with "even number"
model designations were low pitch (modern pitch), and the ones with odd
numbers were high pitch. So 10M and 6M were low pitch, but 11M and 7M are
high pitch. Anybody remember for sure?Enjoy!
Grant
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant Green gdgreen@contrabass.com
http://www.contrabass.com
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
---------------------------------------------------------From: JbJazzman@aol.com
Date: Fri, 26 Mar 1999 23:38:47 EST
Subject: Re: Bass Sax FS
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.comIn a message dated 3/26/99 7:44:12 PM Eastern Standard Time,
gdgreen@contrabass.com writes:<< I've noticed a few old Conn saxophones recently as well, that appear to be
high-pitch instruments. If I remember right, the horns with "even number"
model designations were low pitch (modern pitch), and the ones with odd
numbers were high pitch. So 10M and 6M were low pitch, but 11M and 7M are
high pitch. Anybody remember for sure? >>True with the exception of the reused 11M designation. Originally
the model for the HP tenor, Conn used the same to designate
their short-lived low A baritone sax in the the late 1960's.-Jeff Brody
---------------------------------------------------------Date: Sat, 27 Mar 1999 12:05:07 -0500
From: RJ Carpenter <emerald1@megsinet.net>
Subject: RE: Contrabass agility
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.comI don't know if I used the right words before; but all I meant to say was
that anything that your average proffesional could play on a Bb Soprano;
could, with practice be managed on the Bb or Eb Contra's... I know that I
can play all the standard Bb Clar. Literature on Bb Bass and almost as much
on the Bb Contra (which is extremely out of regulation) that I currently
play. The statement I meant to make is that the big clarinets can; if with
more exertion and practice from the player; do everything that the smaller
clarinets can do.
My $.04
Tristan----------------------
end contrabass list---------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sat, 27 Mar 1999 14:36:41 -0500
From: RJ Carpenter <emerald1@megsinet.net>
Subject: Sonata for Bb Contrabass Clarinet (Please Read)
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.comPlease Read:
Hey All,
At the moment, I need opinions from different people to help decide the
fate of a composition. I've recently completed the 1st movement of a very
difficult Sonata for the Contrabass Clarinet; yet it is very odd, even for
me. I'd appreciate opinions from as many contrabass'ers out there that have
the time to listen to a 3.5 minute midi file and would like to help decide
wether or not I should continue work on this piece or not. (Honest opinions
please) Critisicms of a part of the piece or the piece in it's entirity are
welcome. I am very confident that the style is different; but I'd like to
know if you think that that is a good or bad difference. All who are
interested; please e-mail me at emerald1@megsinet.net and request a midi
file. Hopefully the response will be prompt.
Thanks for your Help
Tristan Carpenter---------------------------------------------------------
From: SaxKicker@aol.com
Date: Sat, 27 Mar 1999 18:10:33 EST
Subject: Re: Contrabass agility
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.comgdgreen@contrabass.com
<< Whether this is true of *everyone* or not, I still think it is sound advice. >>
<< you are writing/arranging for an ensemble "in the abstract"
(i.e., not for a specific group with which you're familiar), I think its a
reasonably safe (and useful) generalization to say that the contra is not
as agile as the higher horns>>
Why the hell do you do this grant. What I mean by this is copying what the
person said in the previous note and putting it on one that is a reply to it.
I mean its ok for one or two lines. But you copy the whole damn message.Matt (extremely good bari sax player)
End contrabass list
---------------------------------------------------------From: CoolStu67@aol.com
Date: Sat, 27 Mar 1999 18:13:39 EST
Subject: Re: Contrabass agility
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.comI assume he dooes to to keep everything organized, as I do as well. Watch your
language on this listserv please.Stuart
-Sax (Soprano/Alto)
-Clarinet (Eb/Bb/Bass/Contralto)<<
Why the hell do you do this grant. What I mean by this is copying what the
person said in the previous note and putting it on one that is a reply to it.
I mean its ok for one or two lines. But you copy the whole damn message.
Matt (extremely good bari sax player)
>>
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