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Date: Sun, 28 Nov 1999 18:21:23 -0800 (PST)
From: Adam Kent-Isaac <lokibassoon@yahoo.com>
Subject: Subcontrabass Saxophone impractical and ludicrous
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.com
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
There may be a prop or even an instrument out of
which a sound may come, which is a "subcontrabass
saxophone" in size and pitch. But is it a real
instrument. No, it's not. And there probably have been
none of these saxophones ever built.
But I have to address a deeper issue here; we might
like contrabass instruments, but that's because we're
a bunch of insecure little men who cling tightly to
our gigantic toys as the ultimate phallic symbol.
But we're not typical. We're probably the only people
on earth who enjoy really low-pitched horns. Most
people would not like to hear such a low pitch from a
subcontrabass sax. Really, it wouldn't even be
musical, and all you'd hear would be the slaps of the
reed. And if a note did come out, it would sound
fairly nasty. People like melodic instruments (flute,
oboe, alto sax, clarinet, cello, etc.) and the players
of these instruments get rich and famous because
people love their sound. Few people would want to
invest the funds and time to build such a large
saxophone.
An instrument like that is all looks anyway. It might
be fun to look at and it might attract attention, but
that's really it; it's just a sight gag. People like
real instruments. Once an instrument gets THAT LOW,
it's not even real anymore, just a joke or a novelty.
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE contrabass instruments.
But as William Shatner said, "Get a Life." Our
instruments give us power like guns, or tanks, or
computers give other little men power!!!-Adam
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---------------------------------------------------------From: CoolStu67@aol.com
Date: Sun, 28 Nov 1999 21:57:52 EST
Subject: Re: Subcontrabass Saxophone impractical and ludicrous
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.comGet your facts straight, the theoretical BBb subcontrabass saxophone's lowest
note would be no lower than one whole step lower than the low C BBb
contrabass clarinet's and the contrabassoon's lowest concert BBb. And if your
calling contrabassoons and contrabass clarinets jokes, then I don't believe I
would be alone in asking you to leave this mailing list.Stuart
<<
Most
people would not like to hear such a low pitch from a
subcontrabass sax. Really, it wouldn't even be
musical, and all you'd hear would be the slaps of the
reed.
>>
<<
An instrument like that is all looks anyway. It might
be fun to look at and it might attract attention, but
that's really it; it's just a sight gag. People like
real instruments. Once an instrument gets THAT LOW,
it's not even real anymore, just a joke or a novelty.
>>
---------------------------------------------------------From: RBobo123@aol.com
Date: Sun, 28 Nov 1999 22:42:01 EST
Subject: Bassoon Low Ab Extension?
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.comJust out of curiosity, how hard would it be to make an Alternate bell for
bassoon extending one whole step lower? Has anyone tried this? I saw of web
pic of a man who made his own contrabassoon so surely this can't be
impossible. Would it lose tone quality? I've even checked the distances
between the tone holes on the bassoon's long and bell joint to attempt to get
measurements. However, the distances don't look right. For instance, the
distance between the C and C# holes (The C hole being the hole that is
covered to produce the note C) seems (to me at least) to be greater than the
distance between the C and B holes? Any thoughs?
---------------------------------------------------------From: RBobo123@aol.com
Date: Sun, 28 Nov 1999 21:32:14 EST
Subject: Re: Subcontrabass Saxophone impractical and ludicrous
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.com>Once an instrument gets THAT LOW,
>it's not even real anymore, just a joke or a novelty.Actually, a Subcontabass Sax would only go to the Ab one whole step below the
Contrabassoon (Which is a mainstay in orchestras around the world) or a Half
Step below a common piano (Arguably the most common instrument in the world).
It may be large low and heavy, but it certainly wouldn't be unconcievable as
you implyjust my two cents
---------------------------------------------------------From: <rfpatterson@switch.com>
Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 07:23:12 -0500
Subject: Bass Sax spotted!
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.comHello,
I was watching the Thanksgiving parade in Pittsburgh on Saturday and saw a
guy marching with a Bass Sax in the Mummers (sp?) Band. I think they are
out of Philadelphia? I bet he was sore the next day from carrying it.Bob Patterson
http://allthingsbass.home.att.net/---------------------------------------------------------
From: "J. Daniel Ashton" <jdashton@bellsouth.net>
Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 08:44:17 -0500
Subject: Re: Bassoon Low Ab Extension?
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.com<nofill>>>>>>> "R" == RBobo123@aol.com wrote:
R> Just out of curiosity, how hard would it be to make an Alternate
R> bell for bassoon extending one whole step lower?
</nofill>I recall seeing our symphony bassoon section with rolled-up catalogs
in their bells, which gained them a half-step, I think. I don't recall
what piece required this.
I also recall seeing, at the ending of The Pines of Rome, surgical
gloves lifting from the bassoon section bells. I don't think the
gloves actually gave them a lower note, however.<nofill>
--
mailto:jdashton@southern.edu J. Daniel Ashton ICQ# 9445142
mailto:jdashton@us.ibm.com http://www.southern.edu/~jdashton
mailto:jdashton@bellsouth.net <<-- NeXTMail PGP key available
</nofill>
--NeXT-Mail-247837109-1--
---------------------------------------------------------From: "J. Daniel Ashton" <jdashton@bellsouth.net>
Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 09:30:46 -0500
Subject: Need alto clarinet or contrabass clarinet player in Atlanta
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.comThe Cobb Wind Symphony has one more rehearsal 12/5 at 3:00 pm before
our first performance 12/12 at 3:00 pm. I'm presently covering both
alto clarinet and contra-bass clarinet parts. (I hate having a part
missing.) However, some of the music has harmonically important parts
for both instruments, esp. Alfred Reed's Russian Christmas Music
(exposed clarinet choir).If you're in Atlanta, play either of these instruments and can make
those dates, please contact me.(Warning: the group asks $25 dues.)
--
J. Daniel Ashton ICQ# 9445142 mailto:jdashton@southern.edu
http://www.southern.edu/~jdashton mailto:jdashton@us.ibm.com
PGP key available send NeXTmail --> mailto:jdashton@bellsouth.net
---------------------------------------------------------Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 11:22:23 -0700
From: Grant Green <gdgreen@contrabass.com>
Subject: Cartoon du jour...
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.comThe San Jose Mercury News (newspaper) makes a huge number of cartoons
available daily. Today's "9 Chickweed Lane" is worth checking out,
http://cgi.mercurycenter.com/cgi-bin/comics/show.cgi?ID=43&DATE=TODAYEnjoy!
Grant
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant Green gdgreen@contrabass.com
http://www.contrabass.com
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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