Contrabass Digest

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2001-09-21

 
From: Heliconman
Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2001 18:52:18 EDT
Subject: Re: [CB] mail volume/Silophone
 

In a message dated 9/20/01 6:29:03 PM Eastern Daylight Time, ilylamp writes:
 

> I agree with not stirring up anything like that.  We've heard it all.  I'm
> actually pretty surprised that nothing was said about it here.  I hope you
> are all doing OK.  By the way, I leaving for Hawai'i in a few days to
> essentially move there.  Does anybody know of any interesting music places
> (contrabass related would be nice)?  Or does anyone live out there?  I'm
> going to the west side of Maui.  Just thought I'd let you know.
>
> Spencer

Maybe check out the huge former grain silo in Canada that you can upload
sound files to and hear them played! Excellent echo chamber! Maybe someone
can find the resonant frequency/frequencies and sample the playback for use
with a MIDI set-up, transposing for each note of the scale!
The website is: <http://www.silophone.net/eng/play.html>.
Take the "trailers" off the URL for more info on the project!
Have fun!
 

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

Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2001 16:38:00 -0700
From: Grant Green
Subject: Re: [CB] Length vs. Pitch
 

>A version of the They Might Be Giants song "Older" uses Rauschpfife
>and a Saroussophone (That's how they spelled them).  This is the
>version of the song that is on their new album, "Mink Car" number
>12.  You can probably download it somewhere too.  It's got a great
>sound.

It does indeed!  CDNow has sound clips for each of the tracks, and
the sound clip for "Older" clearly has rauschpfiefe and sarrusophone,
in duet.  Thanks for spotting that one!

Grant

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant Green                 http://www.contrabass.com
Professional Fool  ->  http://www.mp3.com/ProFools
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
---------------------------------------------------------

Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2001 16:47:17 -0700
From: Grant Green
Subject: Re: [CB] Maui!
 

Spencer mentioned:
>By the way, I leaving for Hawai'i in a few days to essentially move
>there.  Does anybody know of any interesting music places
>(contrabass related would be nice)?  Or does anyone live out there?
>I'm going to the west side of Maui.  Just thought I'd let you know.

Maui is a wonderful place, even though I can't think of anything
there particularly contrabass-related, unless it is the road to Hana
(imagined as a percussion instrument causing high-amplitude
vibrations in your car's suspension)...  Musically, it calls to mind
slack key guitar, ukelele (maybe a baritone uke?)... Perhaps you can
find us a contrabass conch?

Truly a great place to go :-)

Enjoy!

Grant

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant Green                 http://www.contrabass.com
Professional Fool  ->  http://www.mp3.com/ProFools
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
---------------------------------------------------------

From: "Dr Guy GRANT"
Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 10:46:25 +1000
Subject: RE: [CB] Maui!

Look up Richard Waters who makes bass Waterphones.
Guy

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

Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2001 21:05:18 -0500
From: Jim Quist
Subject: Re[2]: [CB] Maui!

> >Does anybody know of any interesting music places
> >(contrabass related would be nice)?  Or does anyone live out there?
> >I'm going to the west side of Maui.  Just thought I'd let you know.

Not contrabass related, but don't forget the Maui Xaphoon guy:

http://www.xaphoon.com/

Jim
---------------------------------------------------------

Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2001 21:11:09 -0500
From: Jim Quist
Subject: Re[2]: [CB] bass vibes, bass marimbas

> Bass marimba I've heard of: bass vibes?  I'm interested :-)

Unfortunately, I've had no luck getting hold of Del Roper, the guy who
built these instruments. He was a friend of Omar Musser, and Del would
be 96 if still alive; his phone number has been disconnected, however,
and the Percussive Arts Society shows the same number in their files as
do I.

From a conversation we had about 10 years ago, my recollection is that
the bass vibraphone is somewhat more successful as an acoustic
instrument than is the bass marimba, which has a weak voice and needs
amplification to really rattle the windows. If I'm not mistaken Del used
double bars on the lowest notes of his bass vibes. All bars were made
from aluminum stock using a woodworking band saw.

I was hoping Del could send me a clean sample of the bass vibraphone
sound and some photographs. The cassette recording I have is somewhat
rustic, and I have only a photograph of one of his marimbas.

Jim

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

From: "Jay and Adrienne Easton"
Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2001 20:16:43 -0700
Subject: [CB] They Might be Giants
 

-From: "Spencer Parks
-A version of the They Might Be Giants song "Older" uses Rauschpfife and a
-Saroussophone (That's how they spelled them).  This is the version of the
-song that is on their new album, "Mink Car" number 12.  You can probably
-download it somewhere too.  It's got a great sound."
 

And the sarrusophone was played by multi-woodwinds god Scott Robinson, who's solo disc "Thinking Big" is a must-own for anyone who likes low notes, big horns, or music. They Might Be Giants is a fun little band- I've enjoyed them for years.  Many of their tracks feature bass clarinet, baritone sax, and bass sax.  In particular, the instrumentation of their older songs "She's Actual Size" and "Edison Museum"  consist of  3 or 4 overdubbed bass saxes, a singer, and not much else.
;-)

Jay C. Easton
www.jayeaston.com
www.spectrumquartet.com

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

From: "Spencer Parks"
Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 11:26:12 -0500
Subject: Re: [CB] Length vs. Pitch

>>A version of the They Might Be Giants song "Older" uses Rauschpfife
>>and a Saroussophone (That's how they spelled them).  This is the
>>version of the song that is on their new album, "Mink Car" number
>>12.  You can probably download it somewhere too.  It's got a great
>>sound.
>
>It does indeed!  CDNow has sound clips for each of the tracks, and
>the sound clip for "Older" clearly has rauschpfiefe and sarrusophone,
>in duet.  Thanks for spotting that one!

Anytime.  I don't usually have to things say about strange, rare, and contra
horns, so it's nice every once in a while.

Spencer

_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp

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

From: "Spencer Parks"
Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 11:34:23 -0500
Subject: Re: [CB] Maui!

>Maui is a wonderful place, even though I can't think of anything
>there particularly contrabass-related, unless it is the road to Hana
>(imagined as a percussion instrument causing high-amplitude
>vibrations in your car's suspension)...  Musically, it calls to mind
>slack key guitar, ukelele (maybe a baritone uke?)... Perhaps you can
>find us a contrabass conch?

I'll see if I can find a bariton uke.  I'm not much of one for stringed
instruments, but if it's bigger than usual, I'll give it a try.  A
contrabass conch.  Now how big would that one have to be?  I'll try.

Thank you
I will enjoy

Spencer

_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp

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

From: "John Kilpatrick"
Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 19:46:11 +0100
Subject: [CB] BBb Leblanc paperclip

Having recently bought a Leblanc paperclip (1970 - keywork to low D and
packs in two main pieces), I've just joined the list. Maybe I'll ask
questions that have already been answered - though I don't suppose I'll be
the first to do so.

My main problem is the squeaks from Bb to around E above the break - and
occasionally elsewhere. They're very difficult to control. This is not a
problem I've had on Saxes of any size (though I only occasionally get my
hands on them) or my soprano clarinet. I'm as sure as I can be that it's not
a bad key, though I keep looking (the instrument appears hardly used, and I
could only find two places where a small action adjustment was needed).
Embouchure is a question - I can't make up my mind how far in, or whether to
put the lower lip over the teeth. Perhaps the reeds (2) are too soft - I
haven't tried working up to harder ones.

So - if anyone has advice on squawk-avoidance, I would very much appreciate
it.

John Kilpatrick
Sheffield
 

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

Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 14:36:08 -0700
From: Grant Green
Subject: Re: [CB] BBb Leblanc paperclip
 

>My main problem is the squeaks from Bb to around E above the break - and
>occasionally elsewhere. They're very difficult to control. This is not a
>problem I've had on Saxes of any size (though I only occasionally get my
>hands on them) or my soprano clarinet. I'm as sure as I can be that it's not
>a bad key, though I keep looking (the instrument appears hardly used, and I
>could only find two places where a small action adjustment was needed).
>Embouchure is a question - I can't make up my mind how far in, or whether to
>put the lower lip over the teeth. Perhaps the reeds (2) are too soft - I
>haven't tried working up to harder ones.

Hi John,

Squeaking from Bb to E suggests that the register key mechanism needs
adjustment.  The Bb paperclip has two register vents and a Bb vent,
all controlled by the register key.  The Bb pad should open only when
the register key and the A key are pressed.  The lower octave pad (on
the descending bore) should open from B (3rd line) to D#, after which
the upper octave pad (on the ascending bore, coming up from the
mouthpiece) should open.  My hunch is that the upper octave pad is
opening, perhaps only slightly, whenever you have the register key
pressed.  Finger low E while watching the upper pad, then press the
octave key: if it moves at all, that is likely your culprit.

The paperclip is infamous for needing finicky adjustments - it can
easily need adjustment, even it if appears completely unused.  Some
people claim that they can fall out of adjustment while sitting,
unmoved, in the case...

The contra is pretty sensitive to embouchure placement.  The best
guide I know is to mount the reed on the mouthpiece, and look
carefully to see where the reed first actually contacts the lay of
the mouthpiece (the point at which the mpc begins to curve away from
the reed): *that* is where your lower lip should contact the reed.

But check the register key first ;-)

Enjoy!

Grant

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant Green                  http://www.contrabass.com
Professional Fool  ->  http://www.mp3.com/ProFools
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
---------------------------------------------------------

From: "Steve Weinert at Excel.Net"
Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 17:20:54 -0500
Subject: [CB] Bass Clarinet Doubling

Ok - so my bass sax has too much presence sometimes - but was that any
reason to send me home with a couple Bb Bass Clarinets and directions to
learn my parts for a couple charts on one on them instead?  Guess "Donner"
(Thunder - the name of my bass sax) was drowning out most everything.

Anyway I need some quick advice on doubling on Bb Bass Clarinet.

Horns I was sent away with are a Selmer Series 9 that needs come very minor
TLC (a couple small corking have come adrift) and a Plastic Vito.

I've got the Vito playing ok - the Selmer I've ID the issues but haven't
dealt with them yet.

Suggestions for MPC and Reeds?  tricks of the trade?

Do they make end-pins for full sized folk (both have dwarf pins - for
6ft'ers at the max) or is one better off hanging it?

I got the impression that the Selmer was available if I made an offer - no
cracks evident, seems to have been a locker queen.  Any idea of worth and
reputation?

Any advice appreciated!

regards,

Steve
 

·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·-·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·-·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·
Steve Weinert - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Manitowoc, WI
·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·-·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·-·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·

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

Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 15:36:52 -0700
From: Grant Green
Subject: Re: [CB] Bass Clarinet Doubling
 

>Suggestions for MPC and Reeds?  tricks of the trade?
>
>Do they make end-pins for full sized folk (both have dwarf pins - for
>6ft'ers at the max) or is one better off hanging it?
>
>I got the impression that the Selmer was available if I made an offer - no
>cracks evident, seems to have been a locker queen.  Any idea of worth and
>reputation?
 

Bass clarinet is a great double - I think the bass and the
contra-alto probably have the best voice in the clarinet section.
The Selmer is a pro horn, and probably worth anything you care to
spend on it to get it into shape.  The Vito is OK (same horn as the
student Yamaha), but may not play well in the upper register: if you
want a cheap horn, you may find a Bundy that plays better for the
same price.

Setup really depends on your context.  For playing in a wind
ensemble, I use a Clark Fobes mpc, Rovner ligature, and Vandoren #3.5
reeds.  If you need more volume, I try stiffer reeds.  For a jazz
ensemble, I like to use a crystal Vandoren (I *think* its a Vandoren,
haven't pulled out my jazz setup for a few years), with the same
ligature and reeds.  If the mpc is more open, go as low as a Vandoren
#2 (or equivalent).

As for pegs, my Selmer came with a decent peg, but I'm 5'11", and I
use the peg about an inch from its maximum extension.  The peg for
the Leblanc 340 (Bb paperclip) is very long (the bottom of the horn
ends up at about knee level), and might fit your Selmer bell.  If it
doesn't fit, it might be worth boring out the peg receiver.
Alternatively, a cello peg *might* be long enough to help.  I prefer
the peg to a strap, especially when doubling two or three horns.

Best of luck!

Grant
 
 
 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant Green                  http://www.contrabass.com
Professional Fool  ->  http://www.mp3.com/ProFools
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
***End of Contrabass Digest***


 
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