Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 13:30:57 -0700
From: "Leif Anderson"
Subject: Re: [CB] Wagner Tubas
Sorry, not quite contrabass but it comes close. I have read a
great deal about the Wagner Tubas about how and why they were made,
what music they have parts in but I know almost nothing about where
they are today. Does anybody know if they are still made? How common
are they? How much do they cost? How likely is it the parts written for
them are actually going to be performed on them? If anybody has
actually played them, I am also curious as to how they feel and play
compared to the French Horn.
On a completely unrelated matter, I'm going to pose another
question in the interest of creating some chatter. In our experiences
in listening to and playing music with contrabass content, we get those
moments that are spectacular and just wow us. So my question is: What
in your opinions are some of the greatest contrabass moments in music?
I personally would nominate the ending of Saturn from Holst's
The Planets. The contrabassoon/ string bass/ 16' +32' organ pedal
descend from contra E down to C, with some support in the higher
octaves (relatively speaking) by the the tuba, cello, bass clarinet and
bass oboe. Meanwhile the top of the orchestra expands upwards from the
marvellous F major / E chord at the beginning to the high E, B open
fifths at the end. The whole thing is gorgeous.
Thanks,
Leif
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Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 13:09:50 -0800
From: Craig
Subject: Re: [CB] Wagner Tubas
Re: contrabass moments:
I second the nomination of Holst's 'Saturn'. (I would have
thought he would drive something European. ;-) )
I'll add Mussorgsky's 'Great Gate of Kiev' from 'Pictures at an
Exhibition'. The end of that long descending
run, toward the end. I'm thinking of an orchestral arrangement,
although a full size concert grand can deliver some decent low notes.
Holst has a rising multi-octave run at the end of '1st
Suite in Eb', but it is shorter and doesn't go as low. Pity.
I just thought of the theme from "Jaws"!
Craig
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From: Hal
Subject: Re: [CB] Wagner Tubas
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 17:01:29 -0500
>>What in your opinions are some of the greatest
contrabass moments in music?<<
In Respighi's "The Pines of Rome," the abrupt change from the
high, frantic chatter to that murky, growling CB chord opening the slow
movement.
***End of Contrabass Digest***