Contrabass Digest

2001-03-13

Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 16:37:16 -0800
From: "Chuck Guzis"
Subject: Re: [CB] G. Verdi Tuba

On 3/12/2001,  Grant Green  wrote:

>Comparing the illustration of Orsi's "G. Verdi tuba" to what I saw at
>the factory (http://www.contrabass.com/italy/cimbasso.jpg), I think
>this is their "upright cimbasso".  I forget what key it was pitched
>in - F?  Very narrow bore for the length - notice how the upper bow
>shows two wraps.  If memory serves, Verdi didn't like the tuba
>(because he thought it didn't blend with the trombones), and required
>the part to be covered by what was essentially a valve contrabass
>trombone.

There was one of these on eBay a couple of weeks ago:

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3D1410477776

labeled as a "flicorno", but is most certainly an upright cimbasso in F because of the largely cylindrical bore.  If memory serves, Verdi specified cimbassi when the orchestra was at audience level, then changed to "bombardone" when la Scala put the orchestra in a pit.

Cheers,
Chuck
 

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

From: "Tom Izzo"
Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2001 01:25:59 -0600
Subject: Re: [CB] G. Verdi Tuba

Grant,

> Perhaps we should call this one a contrabass baritone...

Well no. If it needs to be Contrabass anything, call it a Contrabass Alto.
It's one octave below F Alto instruments. Only a 4th below Baritones.
But I'd call it an upright F Bass Trombone or an upright Cembasso, before
adding Contrabass to another "voice-like" designation.

Tom
 

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

From: "Tom Izzo"
Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2001 01:29:58 -0600
Subject: Re: [CB] G. Verdi Tuba

>
> There was one of these on eBay a couple of weeks ago:
>
> http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1410477776
>

Except the one on ebay was only a 3 valve model.

Tom
 

***End of Contrabass Digest***

 
Next Digest ->
Previous Digest <-
Index
Top