Contrabass Flutes

• Christoph Haberer "Pulsation" (1994 JazzHausMusik, JHM 66) is a listenable jazz CD that includes Michael Heupel on flutes and didgeridoo.  One track ("The Deccan Queen SKB Express") includes MH on subcontrabass flute (the "SKB"): he is also pictured playing it in the liner notes.
• Horst Grabosch DDT "Die Kälte des Weltraums" (1991, JazzHausMusik, JHM 48) is more avant-garde/free jazz.  HG plays trumpet, Michael Heupel on flutes, with Achim Krämer and Thomas Witzmann on percussion.  The credits list only "fl.", but it sounds like the SKB is in use through at least parts of the CD.
  
• Piacere Flute Ensemble (1995 Tokyo Sound City, TSCC CD-0029K). Flute Choir includes Subbass in F, Contrabass in C and Double Contrabass Flute in CC (all from Kotato & Fukushima).  Tracks include J.S. Bach: Toccata and Fugue in D Minor; Bizet: Carmen Suite; Mussorgsky: Pictures from an Exhibition, Teiji Honma: La Follia.  This CD, like many of the others on this page, is available from Muramatsu Flutes.
• JFA (Japan Flute Association) Flute Choir includes 1 subbass in F and 3 contrabass flues in C Includes Ryohei Hirose: Blue Train, Vivaldi: The Seasons; Dvorak: Slavonic Dance No. ; Debussy: Suite; Hora Staccato
• les joueurs de flûte (1993 Jecklin Musikhaus, JD 688-2) includes contrabass in C, and bass flutes in C, G, and F (along with higher flutes).  The CD includes Rimsky-Korsakov "Flight of the Bumblebee", Mussorgsky "Pictures at an Exhibition", Lauber "Visions de Corse", Mendelssohn "Scherzo from a Middsummer Night's Dream", Saint-Saëns "Volière from Carnival of the Animals", Fauré "Pièce", Bizet "La Garde Montante from Carmen", Ravel "Pièce en Forme de Habanera", and Roussel "Joueurs de Flûte".  Available from Muramatsu Flutes, and directly from les joueurs de flûte.
• les joueurs de flûte "Counterpoints" (1996 Jecklin, JD 707-2).  The instrumentation ranges from piccolo to contrabass flute (including flutes in F, C, Bb, alto, bass, basses in G and F).  The tracks are: Mozart / Overture to the Magic Flute, Denisov / Variations on a theme by Mozart, Mozart / Ein Orgelstück für eine Uhr, Kost / Intermezzo, Bach / Ricercare a Sei, Reich / Vermont Counterpoint, Schönberg / Kanons (Nos. 8, 13, 15, 16, 22, 26, 28, and 29).  Highly recommended.  Available from Muramatsu Flutes, and directly from les joueurs de flûte.
• Viennea Flautists, "Le quattro stagioni" (1993, Orfeo, C311931A) includes subbass (in F?): Includes Vivaldi: "The Seasons"
• Viennea Flautists, "Flauti a la Rossini" (1992, Orfeo, C280921A), includes subbass flute.  From the liner picture, it appears to be a bass in F (pitched a fifth below the C bass flute).  The disc contains Rossini's sonatas No. 3 in D, No. 2 in A, No. 6 in D, and No. 1 in G.
• Pierre-Yves Artaud: "Contemporary Flute" (Neuma). Includes Traits Suspendus by Paul Mefano for unaccompanied amplified contrabass (contralto) flute in G; John Cage Ryoanji in a version for Octobass (contrabass in C) flute, pre-recorded octobass flute and percussion Pierre-Yves Artaud: Contemporary French Flute Music (LP) Includes Paul Mefano: Traits Suspendus for Amplified unaccompanied Contrabass (Contralto) Flute in G; Paul Mefano Gravidas for the same instrument.
• Matthias Ziegler: "Marsyas' Song"  (Percords label CD 992-002).  On this he plays Contrabass Flute in C. Probably available from Top Wind in London, 2, Lower marsh, London. Tel.: (0)171 401 8787.
• Mark Dresser, "Banquet" (1997, Tzadik, TZ7027).  This CD includes Matthias Ziegler on piccolo, soprano, alto, bass and contrabass flutes, along with a string quartet - very nice contemporary classical.  The disc also includes "Loss of the Innocents", which has clarinet, cello, and Marcus Rojas on tuba.
• Matthias Ziegler: "Uakti" (1999 New Albion Records, NA 104 CD).  This CD is all solo Matthias Ziegler, on Brannen/Kingma System quarter tone flute, Matusi Flute, alto flute, bass flute, and K&F contrabass flute.  The works all his compositions, except for two by Diego Ortiz (Recercada Primera and Recercada Segunda).  Modern classical in atomosphere, and great to listen to.
• Pierre-Yves Artaud: Orchestre Français de Flûtes (ADDA 581257, © 1991). The liner notes are entirely in French, a language about which I know next to nothing. However, the first track ("Flautissimo", by Yoshihisa Taïra) appears to use PYA's octobass flute. The other tracks are "De L'Étrange Circulation de la Sève" by Alain Bancquart, "Quatuor" by Sofia Goubaïdoulina, "Pyanissimo" by Christine Mennesson, and "Change des Aires" by Alain Louvier. Very good. Very contemporary.
• Beate-Gabriela Schmitt, "Flöte und Computer" (1997 proViva, ISPV 181 CD).  This CD contains six works for flutes and computers/electronics (by the Elektronisches Studio der TU Berlin), in modern/avant garde style.  The flutes include Eb soprano flute, C flute, alto flute, bass flute, C contrabass flute, and subcontrabass flute in G.  Very interesting to listen to!
• Die 14 Berliner Flötisten, "Ein grenzenloses Flötenvergnügen vol. 1" (1996, Labium, LA75101).  This disc includes Boismortier "Concert for Five Flutes", Mozart "Overture to the Magic Flute", Mendelssohn "Overture to A Midsummer Night's Dream", Thärichen "Atemklänge für Flötenorchester", Mussorgsky "Pictures at an Exhibition", Tschaikowsky "Nutcracker", Hirose "Blue Train", and Mancini "Pink Panther Suite."  The ensemble uses piccolo, F soprano flute (by Kotato & Fukushima), C flute, G alto flute (K&F), bass flute (K&F), contrabass flute (K&F), and double contrabass flute (K&F).  Well done!
• Die 14 Berliner Flötisten, "Ein grenzenloses Flötenvergnügen vol. 2" (1997, Labium, LA75102).  This disc includes Bizet "Carmen Suite", Debussy "Clair de Lune", Tschaikowsky "Overture Miniature", da Viadana "La Fiorentina", Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, Grieg "Aus Holbergs Zeit", and Rossini "Overture from the Barber of Seville".  Well done!
• Die 14 Berliner Flötisten, "Dancing Flutes - Arrangements of well-known Classics" (2002 MDG, MDG 3081114-2) includes arrangements of Tico Tico, the "L'Arlesienne-Suite" (Bizet), "America" (Bernstein), Dance of the Hours" (Ponchielli) and more.  Easy to listen to :-)
  
• Halil "01" (1997, by Klambauer, Klambauer, Pesendorfer and Riepl).  This flute quartet uses piccolo, flute, alto flute, bass flute, and contrabass flute to good effect.  The works include: Marais "Le Basque", Mozart "Quartett A-Dur", Debussy "La Fille aux cheveux de lin" and "Clair de Lune", Bozza "Jour d'été à la montagne", Berthomieu "'Chats' ... cinq pièces pittoresques, Leenhouts "Report upon 'When shall the sun shine'", Parker "Scrapple from the Apple", Gossec "Tambourin" and Mozart "Alla turca".  Well done.
• Thomas K.J. Mejer, "Compositions for Contrabass-Saxophone" (1996 earup, CD 1003).  This is a disc of contemporary works for or including the contrabass saxophone, but includes one work ("Resonances of Ancient Sins" by Frank Denyer)  that includes a subcontrabass flute (played by Madeline Bischof, a member of KONTRA-Trio).
• KONTRA-Trio, "Diligent Places" (1999, KONTRA-Trio all rights reserved by the musician/SUISA stv/asm 005 / earup 1005).  The KONTRA-Trio comprises Madeline Bischof (contrabass flute), Thomaks K.J. Mejer (contrabass saxophone), and Leo Bachmann" (contrabass tuba).  The works are: "Diligent Places" by TKJM, "Multiplex" (which also includes a tape part) by LB, and "Tartarelischer Tanz II" by TKJM.  Very interesting listening! You can order this CD directly from Leo Bachmann (US$20, including shipping).
• Michael Heupel playing skb (SubKontrabassFlote) slap on his Sub Contrabass Flute (in G, 2 octaves below the alto flute in G). This is available from All Flutes Plus in London, 5, Dorset Street, London. Tel.: (0)171 935 3339. There are also other CDs featuring Michael Heupel playing this instrument
• Uwe Kropinski (Guitars) and Michael Heupel (Flutes): Africa Notebook, AHO CD 1024 available from HMV shop (Jazz Section), 150, Oxford Street, London. Tel.: (0)171 631 3423.
• Michael Heupel also plays in Norbert Stein's Pata Music and their 2 latest CDs 9. & 10. PATA CD 9 and PATA CD 8 are Graffiti and Blue Slit. Norbert Stein's PATA Music has a home page at: http://www.nettuno.it/ejn/labels/pata.htm .  The snail mail address is: Norbert Stein, Eiserweg 14 a, D-51503 Roesrath, Germany
• Adam Gilberti's "Genesis Concert" CD includes Marion Garver playing a Kingma contrabass flute on "Reflections of Honor", "Seismic Disturbances" (in which it has obvious solos), and "Violin Concerto". Other instruments featured on the CD (actually a 2 CD set) include contrabass and contra-alto clarinet, contrabassoon, contrabass sarrusophone, serpent, contrabass sax, and Bb subcontrabass tubax. See http://www.genesisconcert.com to order the CD.


 

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Many of the flute CDs are available by mail from Muramatsu Flutes

Text by Francis Firth & Grant Green