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Date: Mon, 29 Jul 1996 14:10:52 -0700
From: (Kenneth R Pergrem)
Subject: Re: Contrabass-L, No. 24
Hi Grant,
In Contrabass-L, No. 24, you wrote:
> I've calculated correctly, you should be able to reach 30 Hz (and a littleIf I remember correctly, the Guinness Book of World Records stated at one time that the one of the lowest pitched instruments was the "sub-double-contrabass clarinet" [=octobass, probably] of which only one was built, and the lowest tone it could produce was something like 16.4 Hz. I thought that the lowest note on the piano was an A = 55 Hz. Isn't middle C 238 Hz ? I freely admit to being piano-ignorant, but maybe one of you professional musicians would know for sure.
> lower) with contrabassoon and BBb contrabass sarrusophone, and probably
> the CC contrabass sarrusophone and BBb contrabass clarinets (especially
> if the range is extended down to written C). I think the contra d'anche
> goes down to the piano's lowest D, while the EEb contrabass sarrusophone
> contrabass sax, and EEb contralto clarinets hit the lowest Db, and Kotato's
> double contrabass flute probably hits the lowest C. I'm not sure which
> note 30 Hz would be, but my guess is that its somewhere between that lowest
> A and the D above it.
I just bought a EEb contralto clarinet that was advertised on the internet. The next time I am near a piano, I'll have to see what my lowest note corresponds to on the piano keyboard.
--Ken Pergrem
San Jose, CA
Ken,
I think middle C on the piano is actually 263.something, which would put it in between the A below (220) and the A above (440). (The C above middle C would be 2x 263, 526.something). The octobass clarinet does (should?) descend below the piano's lowest A: after all, the contrabass clarinet already hits the lowest C-Bb (depending on how much its extended). If I'm right, and middle C is 263 Hz, then the lower C's would be:
| 263 | middle C | 2' C |
| 131.5 | C, 2nd space BC | 4' C |
| 65.75 | C below BC | 8' C |
| 32.9 | lowest C on piano | 16' C |
| 16.4 | C below piano (octobass clarinet!) | 32' C |
If your EEb contrabass goes down to written Eb, you should be able to match the lowest Gb on the piano: if your horn has keys down to D, you'll hit the lowest F. I don't know if EEb contras ever have extensions down to written C, but that would sound low Eb. Tell us more!
Grant
Author: (MR MARK A TRINKO)
Date: 7/30/96 12:20 AM
Subject: Contra-L
One of the things I would like to see this list used for is to announce performances before they happen. One of the things that frustrates me with our IDRS Journal is that we all report on "cool" performnces after they happen. I need to know before they happen so I can attend them!
Mark
Mark,
Agreed! If anyone has (or knows of) an interesting performance, please let us know in advance!
In that vein, I'll be playing in Danville, CA, at the "Hot August Nights" concert series on Aug. 1 (that's this Thursday). The group is the San Ramon Jazz Ensemble , and they've promised me that I can play the contrabass sarrusophone on my bari feature piece ("Paper Moon"). The piece is pretty corny, but it's about what I can handle with the limited amount of practice time I've had on the beast. The site is the Danville Livery, which is apparently some sort of shopping center (I hope "livery" is for equestrian tackle, and not liver). We're scheduled to play 6:30-8:30 pm. If it goes well, they may let me play it again....
Grant
End Contrabass-L No. 25