From: "Gordon Hallgren"
Subject: Re: [CB] ContraForte (vs. Contrabassoon)
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2004 19:29:44 -0500
i thought it was Hearing Impaired Persons . . . .
Klaus Bjerre wrote:
> And, for that matter,
so-called HIP's would never accept a contraforte.
>>What are HIP's?
"Historically Informed
Performances"
>>May they be applied
for orthopaedic replacements?
Two points for humor, Klaus.
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Date: Tue, 07 Dec 2004 18:38:40 -0600
From: Jim Quist
Subject: Re: [CB] ContraForte (vs. Contrabassoon)
> i thought it was Hearing Impaired Persons . . . .
And so it is...
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From: "Brock Imison"
Subject: Re: [CB] [CB Digest]
Date: Wed, 8 Dec 2004 12:17:31 +1100
Unfortunately I haven't enough time to write a detail message,
but the melbourne symphony in which I play prin.Contra had a
Contraforte after the festival for quite a few weeks to try out. To sum
it up in a few words, I think its fantastic. I will not be surprised if
our orchestra places an order in the not too distant future.
Cheers,
Brock Imison
Melbourne.
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Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2004 21:56:23 -0500
Subject: Re: [CB] [CB Digest]
From: Timothy J Tikker
Seems that the Contraforte could be especially useful for
orchestral literature which implies the contrabass sarussophone, e.g.
mid-to-late 19th century French.
- Tim Tikker
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Date: Wed, 08 Dec 2004 04:30:19 +0100
Subject: Re: [CB] [CB Digest]
From: Klaus Bjerre
> Seems that the Contraforte could be especially useful for
orchestral
> literature which implies the contrabass sarussophone, e.g.
mid-to-late
> 19th century French.
>
> - Tim Tikker
Your point is not bad!
Yet from a general-brass-person's point of view I would rather
say this:
As for the increased dynamic spectre the Contraforte hardly is
more different from the contra bassoon than the modern double
valve/huge bore bass trombone is different from the bass trombone
used in the premiere of "Don Juan" or even of Beethoven's 5th, the
modern euphonium or F tuba is different from the serpents, ophicleides,
or Wieprecht dimension tubas as used by Mendelssohn or Berlioz. Modern
brass players love huge instruments, myself being no exemption. But we
should let ourselves educate enough to have just a tiny sense of
proportions.
Berlioz wrote for 2 differently pitched ophicleides in the Dies
Irae movement. The purpose was to make sure, that the chance that both
instruments hit a weak note at the same time was minimised.
Today that movement is often performed with large tubas on both
the ophicleide parts.
The price was taken in a TV transmitted performance by one of
the regional orchestras in my own country. A set up with only 8 or 10
primo violins had to match 2 huge CC tubas. S-A-D says sad.
Klaus
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Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2004 20:49:48 -0800 (PST)
From: Heather McCamey
Subject: [CB] Frederick Fennell
Forwarded email from Fennell's daughter....
I want you, and the greater music community to know that my
father died peacefully in his sleep early this morning, Tuesday,
December 7, 2004. Elizabeth and I were by his side. I had
promised him that I would do all I could to get him back to Siesta Key
so he could watch the sun set over the ocean. With the help of
Hospice, he arrived home in time to see the brilliant orange and pinks
in the western skies last evening. A bit before Midnight, dad
told me he was "frustrated and disappointed." When I asked
him,"Why?" he replied, "There's no drummer here yet. I can't die
without a drummer!" I told him that I loved him, and that
"Heaven's best drummer was on the way." Moments later he said, "I
hear him! I hear him! I'm OK now." This was my final
conversation with my dad.
I was blessed to be able to dress my father in his finest set of
tails after he died, complete with the usual struggle with his
tie. Elizabeth asked if he could be "dressed up" and I could
think of nothing finer for a lasting memory. Dad asked to be
cremated and that I scatter his ashes in the woods at
Interlochen, Michigan this summer. This, of course, I will
do.
Elizabeth is OK at this point. We are closely watching
her, monitoring her blood sugar levels and seeing that she gets the
diet and rest she needs after such a life transition.
There will be a small Memorial Service at a church in Siesta
Key. No date or time has been set yet. As knowledge of my
father's death is communicated, please keep both Elizabeth and me in
your prayers.
Fondly > Cathy Fennell Martensen
Feel free to forward this email.
***End of Contrabass Digest***