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From: "Tom Izzo"
Date: Sat, 9 Dec 2000 20:37:43 -0600
Subject: Re: [CB] Please Talk Me Down.
Hi Grant,
you wrote:
> > The tuba, per se, is a great instrument. I've always admired the
> tone, power, and presence that even a single tuba develops (when
> played well). I have an old Eb myself, not that I've taken the time
> to properly learn it. (Someday! ... my favorite refrain...)
>
> The best thing I can think of is: (a) get yourself a good tuba
> (sousaphones included), andPlease do not confuse the Tuba with the Sousaphone.
The Sousaphone is a member of the Saxhorn family (Cornets, Baritones,
Mellophones, "Modern" Bass Horns, etc)
The Tuba is a member of the Horn family (Orchestral Horns, Euphonia, Descant
Horns, etc).For a Brass player, The Contrabass Clarinet is closer to a Bass Sax, than a
Tuba is to a Sousaphone. :-)Tom
---------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sat, 09 Dec 2000 22:53:13 +0000
From: Robert Howe
Subject: [CB] Re:Papalini bass clarinet
The Papalini bass clarinet at MFA Boston matches another at the Metropolitan
Mus Art (MMA) in new york. To make these puppies a block of wood was split
and a convoluted groove cut and mated to a similar groove in the top piece,
then glued to reform a single piece. If you look at these instruments
carefully you will see10 holes on the front and two on the back; one for
each thumb on the back, for each finger and for the palm of each hand under
the pointer finger on the front.Given the simplicity of manufacture and of fingering, it is no wonder that
these did not become popular.I spent yesterday afternoon at MMA measuring oboes for a paper I am writing,
the collection is just fabulous, by all means go and see it if you are in
New York. Closed Mondays!Has anyone seen the Musee de Instruments de Musique in Bruxelles, and is it
worth giving up one of a four day trip to Paris to see it (instead of
visiting Chartres)?Robert Howe
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Date: Sat, 09 Dec 2000 20:24:15 -0800
From: Dave Richoux
Subject: Re: [CB] Please Talk Me Down.
Tom Izzo wrote:
> Hi Grant,
> you wrote:
> > > The tuba, per se, is a great instrument. I've always admired the
> > tone, power, and presence that even a single tuba develops (when
> > played well). I have an old Eb myself, not that I've taken the time
> > to properly learn it. (Someday! ... my favorite refrain...)
> >
> > The best thing I can think of is: (a) get yourself a good tuba
> > (sousaphones included), and
>
> Please do not confuse the Tuba with the Sousaphone.
> The Sousaphone is a member of the Saxhorn family (Cornets, Baritones,
> Mellophones, "Modern" Bass Horns, etc)
> The Tuba is a member of the Horn family (Orchestral Horns, Euphonia, Descant
> Horns, etc).Ummm, don't think so :-)
The Sousaphone is just a modified Helicon, and the Helicon and the Tuba are
not Horns - as far as my research takes me: the conical bore put all tubas
(except the Wagnerian [sp?] Tuba) in the same family as the Cornet, not with
the straight bore family of trumpets (natural & otherwise,) Orchestral horns,
trombones, etc.I am sure there are pro and amateur musicologists and such on this list that
will pick at my bones, but I think in general terms I have it correct. I am
also sure that in the mad rush of invention in the 1800s and early 1900s there
was a lot of overlap in brass nomenclature (in efforts to sell more products)
so maybe we are picking a lot of nits here...Dave Richoux
---------------------------------------------------------
From: "Guy GRANT"
Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2000 17:13:25 +1100
Subject: [CB] BASS CLARINET PLAYED WITHOUT MOUTHPIECEGday
Stephen Kent sent me a review copy of "The Event Horizon", a compilation CD.
On Trance Mission's track "VeeDeeVu" Beth Custer plays Bass Clarinet without
a mouthpiece. Anyone know how this is done? Grant?Guy
Dr Guy GRANT
---------------------------------------------------------
From: "Ulrich Drechsler"
Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2000 09:54:10 +0100
Subject: Re: [CB] BASS CLARINET PLAYED WITHOUT MOUTHPIECEYes, it's not so difficult. You do this with the same embouchure like the
trumpet players .Uli
---------------------------------------------------------Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2000 15:37:26 +0000
From: Terje Lerstad
Subject: Re: [CB] (several subjects)Hallo, list
Answering a lot in the same letter:To Chris Rubennacher: My Leblanc contrabass has serial number 2697 and was bought at the International Clarinet congress in Paris 1983, so your no. 2017 must be from about 1980.
Concerning the octavin (the strange eBay instrument), there is a nice photo on the front cover of The Clarinet Volume 10. No.4 (1983), together with an insteresting article about Dr. Fitz Marcus by Pamela Weston.
To Craig about high fingerings for contrabass clarinet: The information you got was actually the address to my homepage. This appeared as an article in The Clarinet Volume 18, No.3 (1991). The exact adress to the page is: htttp://hjem.sol.no/tlerstad/altissimo.html
About odd bass clarinets: The Papalini bass clarinets are the only things we know about this Inventore, as he called himself. There are 5 clarinets in Brussels, Boston, Leipzig, Paris and New York . The rankets are surely the inspiration, and there are more holes than we have fingers on our hands on these instruments, like the rankets (you are supposed to use not only the finger tips, but the fleshy parts of the fingers). Liker ankets, two parts of wood with carved channels are glued together.
About the date, some say ca.1810 and some 1820.More odd bass clarinets: Heinrich Grenser made some very nice bass clarinets in the 1790ies in the shape of a bassoon. There is one in Stockholm, and Streitwolf also made one which is in the Hague. I saw one instrument like this in Oslo once, classsified as a bassoon (there are no cylindrical bassoons!), but I don't know where it is now.
Concerning the Ab piccolo clarinet: As far as I know, Selmer don't make any Aflat clarinets, but I have a Leblanc instrument (one of my 12 sizes of clarinets). Unfortunately, after Vito took over Leblanc, Leon Leblanc died at the age of 99 and the factory in France was closed, the only Ab Boehm system clarinets are made by Orsi, Italy.
Terje Lerstad
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From: "Tom Izzo"
Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2000 10:01:45 -0600
Subject: Re: [CB] BASS CLARINET PLAYED WITHOUT MOUTHPIECE> Yes, it's not so difficult. You do this with the same embouchure like the
> trumpet players .
>
> UliWell, actually moe like a TRombone or Euphonium embouchure. The mp receiver
on your avaerage Bass Clarinet is much larger than a Trumpet mp.Tom
---------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2000 18:25:28 +0100
From: "Klaus Bjerre"
Subject: Re: [CB] BASS CLARINET PLAYED WITHOUT MOUTHPIECE
>> Yes, it's not so difficult. You do this with the same embouchure like the
>> trumpet players .
>>
>> Uli
>
> Well, actually moe like a TRombone or Euphonium embouchure. The mp receiver
> on your avaerage Bass Clarinet is much larger than a Trumpet mp.
>
> TomWant the recipe for a relatively cheap ophicleide:
A baritone sax played on a bassbone mouthpiece!
Klaus
---------------------------------------------------------Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2000 13:19:29 -0700 (MST)
From: Shouryunus Sarcasticii
Subject: Re: [CB] mouthpiecesOn Fri, 8 Dec 2000, Rich Haynes wrote:
> recently my roommate accidentally broke my wooden charles bay Bb clarinet
> mouthpiece and now we have to look for a *better* one.My sincerest condolences, Rich. I recently had a similar tragedy, and as
a result, have sought out finer mouthpieces as well. I'm still waiting
for my new ones to arrive in the mail.> ive decided its not
> worth buying a compromise - something even better would be good. the m'piece
> was worth AU$700 and insurance will cover it. so any ideas on a fantastic
> mouthpiece? something wooden would be best i think but fill me in on whats
> the latest and greatest!A few things first - Chuck Bay's mouthpieces are EXCELLENT, and are held
in high regard by most (if not everyone) in the playing community.
HOWEVER, they are NOT for everyone. It takes a particular player to
handle a Bay, and usually those players sound and play fantastic! My
kudos to you for that! If you found that the Bay gave you the results
that pleased, you may not find another brand comparable; this does not
mean you shouldn't try, though.Secondly, few other mouthpieces will cost you as much as the Bay. Only
one comes to mind, and that would be any mouthpiece by Jim Pyne. Like the
Bay, they are handcrafted and run approximately $200US (the Bay is the
same price, I'm guessing that's comparable to $700AU). However, Jim's
facings are typically assymetrical (made so on purpose) to create a very
distinct and attractive tone color. The drawback is that the mouthpiece
is VERY resistant, and VERY hard to control.My recent casualty was a Gennusa GE. Iggy Gennusa's mouthpieces are very
good, and cheap, at $75US a pop. I'm currently borrowing a friend's, until
my newest selection arrives: a set of Ridenours.Tom Ridenour makes several good mpcs; at $110 a piece, they are reasonably
priced, especially for handmade pieces. But he gets a lot of orders, so
it will be a while, I'll bet, if you order from him.Clark Fobes make good mouthpieces, some at $125US, some at $200. I
haven't tried the $200 one, but the others are nice.Walt Grabner makes good mouthpieces, as well as Roger Garrett. Both are
relatively new to the mouthpieces market, and therefore, are selling
CHEAP, but they are making quality products! Rog's sell for $70US, Walt's
for about $80US.Greg Smith also makes quality mouthpieces. Send him $125US (I think), and
he sends you all three of his facings. You send back the two you like
least, and he sends you another two of the facings you don't like (to make
sure you didn't get crappy ones the first time).Most of these guys can be contacted through Sneezy.org, on the retailer's
listing page.Best of luck!
J. Shouryu Nohe
http://web.nmsu.edu/~jnohe
Professor of SCSM102, New Mexico State Univ.
"Never put passion before principle. Even when win, you lose."
-Miyagi-san, KKpt.II
---------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2000 13:28:26 -0700 (MST)
From: Shouryunus Sarcasticii
Subject: Re: [CB] BASS CLARINET PLAYED WITHOUT MOUTHPIECEOn Sun, 10 Dec 2000, Guy GRANT wrote:
> Gday
>
> Stephen Kent sent me a review copy of "The Event Horizon", a compilation CD.
> On Trance Mission's track "VeeDeeVu" Beth Custer plays Bass Clarinet without
> a mouthpiece. Anyone know how this is done? Grant?You just buzz really violently into the neck pipe. I do it all the time
for kicks. It sounds a lot like a didgeradoo. *grin*>
>J. Shouryu Nohe
http://web.nmsu.edu/~jnohe
Professor of SCSM102, New Mexico State Univ.
"Never put passion before principle. Even when win, you lose."
-Miyagi-san, KKpt.II---------------------------------------------------------
From: "Guy GRANT"
Date: Mon, 11 Dec 2000 10:07:29 +1100
Subject: RE: [CB] [oddmusic] BASS CLARINET PLAYED WITHOUT MOUTHPIECEGday
Yep I can play kaval and ney so I'll give that a go on the baritone
sax...but it might not work as well due to the conical bore.Guy
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