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Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2001 16:40:15 -0700
From: Grant Green
Subject: [CB] Fwd: octobass
The following was sent in my Tim Tikker, with instructions to do what I want with it ;-) -so here it is. The image is posted at http://www.contrabass.com/2001/octobass.jpeg, and is worth booting up the browser to go look at :-)
Thanks Tim,
Grant
>Dear Grant,
>
>I've been meaning to send this for ages, and finally got around to it!
>
>It's a jpeg of myself standing next to the octobass at the old
>Conservatoire National Supérior de Paris (rue de Madrid) Musical
>Instrument Museum in July 1987.
>
>I'm about 6' 1", to give you an idea of the size of the instrument! The
>photo was taken from a balcony above.
>
>According to Berlioz, the instrument's 3 strings were tuned to 16' C - G
>- 8' C -- not nearly as low as I expected from its huge size. Thus it
>went only a major third below the standard range of the regular
>double-bass (i.e. when without extension). Obviously the idea was to
>have these strings at their full length and power.
>
>In the photo, you can see the fretting apparatus on the would-be
>fingerboard, connected to those levers on the side which are pulled down
>by pedals arranged in an organ-style pedalboard set into the base on
>which the instrument sits (unfortunately too dark to see well in the
>photo). You'll also notice the bow hanging on the wall to the
>instrument's left.
>
>Sorry it's a little blurry, but at least it gets the point across!
>
>I didn't think it a good idea to post the jpeg to contrabass-l, so I'm
>sending it to you to do with as you please. Perhaps you can put it on
>your website and refer cb-l subscribers to it there.
>
>- Tim Tikker
---------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2001 16:52:05 -0700
From: Grant Green
Subject: Re: [CB] Fwd: octobass>>According to Berlioz, the instrument's 3 strings were tuned to 16' C - G
>>- 8' C -- not nearly as low as I expected from its huge size. Thus it
>>went only a major third below the standard range of the regular
>>double-bass (i.e. when without extension). Obviously the idea was to
>>have these strings at their full length and power.Exactly. The modern orchestral cello and string bass are supposedly
quite a bit "too small" for their pitch ranges, and should have much
larger bodies to effectively radiate their fundamental frequencies.I don't suppose they let you pluck the strings... ? ;-)
Grant
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant Green
ecode:contrabass http://www.contrabass.com
Professional Fool -> http://www.mp3.com/ProFools
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
---------------------------------------------------------Date: Tue, 03 Apr 2001 22:42:24 -0400
From: Katherine Thompson
Subject: Re: [CB] [CB Digest]Craig mentioned making a contra-sized Rovner type ligature. Rover actually makes a contrabass clarinet ligature-- I ordered one through my local music store. All the Rovner ligatures are the same price, regardless of size, and come with a plastic mouthpiece cap. They're priced so reasonably that its probably not worth trying to make one.
Katherine Thompson
---------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 03 Apr 2001 22:56:28 -0700
From: bitwise
Subject: Re: [CB] Fwd: octobass
Grant Green wrote:
> >>According to Berlioz, the instrument's 3 strings were tuned to 16' C - G
> >>- 8' C -- not nearly as low as I expected from its huge size. Thus it
> >>went only a major third below the standard range of the regular
> >>double-bass (i.e. when without extension). Obviously the idea was to
> >>have these strings at their full length and power.
>
> Exactly. The modern orchestral cello and string bass are supposedly> quite a bit "too small" for their pitch ranges, and should have much
> larger bodies to effectively radiate their fundamental frequencies.
>
> I don't suppose they let you pluck the strings... ? ;-)
>
> Grant*Supposedly* too small? :-) I've always found the volume (both
senses) of low strings underwhelming, except when transporting
one. I played a full-size bass in high school that wasn't too bad -
once I eliminated the flat-wound electric bass strings some
saboteur had installed!Good picture. It's the first one I've seen that gives a true sense
of the size of this monster. And I had never understood the
stopping mechanism based on the descriptions I'd read.Craig
---------------------------------------------------------
From: "Dave Spiegelthal"
Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 09:47:37 -0400
Subject: Re: [CB] Rovner ligatures for contrabass clarinets
On my EEb contra-alto clarinet I'm using an unmodified Rovner bass clarinet
ligature (on a Bundy #3 contra-alto clarinet mouthpiece), and it fits fine but
has to be opened up almost all the way to do so. One could make a Rovner fabric
ligature work on a larger mouthpiece (such as for BBb contrabass clarinet) by
making the following modification: Unglue the flaps of material on the inside
of the ligature, enlarge the slots (with scissors) through which the ligature
screw passes, then re-glue the flaps such that they are slightly shorter than
originally. This will effectively enlarge the diameter of the ligature. Do a
test-fit before glueing to make sure you got the lengths right. Use contact
cement as the adhesive.
Dave Spiegelthal
Calverton, VA
---------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 04 Apr 2001 19:54:35 +0200
From: Drake Mabry
Subject: [CB] concertsJust a note to say that I'll be in California for a couple of concerts and two premieres of my music.
April 10th János Negyesy and Päivikki Nykter will premiere my composition 'Negyesy's Gallery', twelve duos for two violins based on the computer paintings by János Negyesy. My piece is about 30 minutes long and there are two other premieres on the program. There should be some interesting multimedia as well. The concert is in the evening at the University of California, San Diego. I think the hall is still called Mandeville Center but please verify before coming.
April 16th at 8 p.m., Catherine and I will play at UCLA in Schoenberg Hall. The concert will consist of compositions by Chausson, Ohana, Debussy, Mabry, and improvisations by our duo, Résonance Duo. Gary Gray will play with us in both the compositions and the impros.
Unfortunately due to the inconvenience of travel I'm not bringing my lowest instruments. I'll be playing my sopranino, soprano, and tenor bamboo clarinets, wooden saxophone, and my single reed oboe. This summer I plan to finish my design for a more compact travelling contrabass bamboo clarinet.
I would be happy to see anyone from the list - stop by and say hi.Drake
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