 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jaysne
Date: 2007-10-17 19:49
Question regarding the contrabeast: How low does it go? I've seen some advertised as going down to low D, and some going down to low C. Are there others that only go down to low Eb (as in regular bass clarinet?)
Is there any way to tell the lowest note--by looking at pictures--without actually playing the instrument yourself?
I was also thinking that perhaps some companies made only low D versions, and some made only low C versions, so the brand name may be the tipoff.
I also thought perhaps that when people say theirs goes down to low C, they are talking concert pitch, which would mean their horn only goes down to clarinet low D.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-10-17 20:25
The all metal pro Leblanc BBb contrasasses have been built to low Eb (straight-bodied), low D and low C (both in paperclip form).
http://www.contrabass.com/pages/cbcl.html
The low D and low C versions are easy to spot as the low C has the taller bell which stands proud of the top U tube, whereas on the low D version the bell falls short of the top U tube.
Leblanc EEb contra-altos are built in straight form to low Eb, and in paperclip form to low C.
Selmer (Paris) rosewood EEb contra-altos are built to both low Eb and low C, and their BBb contrabasses usually descend to low C. Buffet EEb contra-altos are built to low Eb.
Student contras, such as Vito contras (both EEb and BBb) are built to low Eb, as are Bundy contra-altos.
In all cases when describing the lowest note, it should be stated what the lowest KEYED note is (eg. to low Eb, to low D or to low C), not it's actual pitch in concert pitch as that's misleading.
That would mean a contra-alto to low Eb would be 'low F#' or to low C would be 'low Eb' which it may be in concert pitch terms, but that's of no use as it doesn't give a definitve or correct discription.
Likwewise, a BBb contrabass built to low D should never be described as a 'low C' even if that is it's lowest note in concert pitch terms - as clarinets are transosing instruments, the keywork and lowest notes are named after the written and fingered note, not the actual sounding note as that is misleading.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2007-10-17 21:31)
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Author: LCL
Date: 2007-10-18 01:08
I own both a Leblanc Low C paper clip BBb Contrabass and Selmer Low Eb Rosewood EEb Contra-alto. But I have never heard of a Selmer Low C Contra-alto, I thought only their BBb Contrabass went down that far.
Regards,
LCL
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2007-10-18 01:29
IIRC, some models have alternate bells, so if you want a low C you can get it, but you lose your regular lowest note in exchange. (that is, I think, fingering an Eb gives you a C)
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: nahoj
Date: 2007-10-18 22:49
That would mean that you jump with the lowest fingering a major third down: E to C? Also, it cannot be built simply with a huge bell: the bell would need to be put on a long piece of extra tube (for sure about a foot long). Seems unlikely to me that that has been built by Selmer. In any case I've never heard of it (I've only seen and heard of Selmer contra-alto's to low Eb) and I've been looking at contra's on the net and irl for a fairly long time now so if it exists it must be quite rare. I you have a picture or a reference..?
To complete the post of Chris: there also exists the Eppelsheim BBb contrabass which is to low C. Only, I heard there are only two built thus far (www.eppelsheim.com).
And there are the rare and out-of-production Linton contra-alto and contrabass but I don't know how low they go.
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Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2007-10-19 20:56
Dang, our little small town band never had the $$ to buy a contra-bass clarinet, so I have never been around one. I was always under the impression, however, that the Bb contra and Bb bass clarinets both played the same letter note, such as low Eb (concert Db), when both are fingered the same, except that the Eb on the contra sounded one octave lower than the Eb on the bass clarinet.
If the contra didn't sound much lower than the bass, they would in effect be the same instrument with only differing physical sizes. Have I been badly confused?
Eu
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Author: Tom Piercy
Date: 2007-10-19 21:14
Eu wrote above:
"...when both are fingered the same, except that the Eb on the contra sounded one octave lower than the Eb on the bass clarinet."
You are correct -
Bb Contrabass clarinets sound two octaves lower than the B♭ soprano clarinet and one octave lower than the B♭ bass clarinet.
End the confusion. 
Tom
Tom Piercy
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2007-10-19 21:29
nahoj wrote:
"That would mean that you jump with the lowest fingering a major third down: E to C? Also, it cannot be built simply with a huge bell: the bell would need to be put on a long piece of extra tube (for sure about a foot long)."
Yup, I believe that's what the extension looks like. When I was writing my piece for clarinet choir, our contrabassist said something to the effect of "Sure, I can play low C, but not if you want D as well."
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2007-10-19 21:42
Gee, thanks, Tom . . . somehow I got confused when reading some of the posts, and you eased my fears that I had everything goofy all these years.
Eu
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Author: nahoj
Date: 2007-10-19 22:43
EEBaum,
Are you sure his extension wasn't home made?
I made an extension for my Eb paperclip once to play B. I needed the note for a contrabassoon part and didn't need the C. I used a piece of chromed drain tube. Looked kind of funny with the bell sticking up 15cm... :-)
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2007-10-19 23:52
Dunno... could've been a custom job. It was the school's horn. Think whatever model it came with might've just had some extension tubing included for lower notes.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: A Brady
Date: 2007-10-20 22:22
A good friend of mine, Bohdan Hilash, is a leading low clarinet specialist here in the New York City area, as well as abroad.
He says to please contact him off the board for any help with various contra clarinet questions at
lowblow@ix.netcom.com
AB
AB
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Author: graham
Date: 2007-10-23 06:51
I have seen a contra bass modified to go down to low B flat, played in the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
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Author: nahoj
Date: 2007-10-23 18:43
Written low B flat? That's lower than any contrabassoon or standard piano.
What piece required such a range?
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Author: graham
Date: 2007-10-29 08:20
The piece in question (I think by MacMillan) did not require bottom B flat. However, as the instrument had been extended to produce it the player asked the composer if it was OK to use it at a suitable point in the piece, and the composer agreed. So it was duly played.
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Author: BassetHorn
Date: 2007-11-01 19:43
Great summary Chris. Is Selmer Paris now making the wood Eb contrabass to low C? I have only seen it to low Eb.
Buffet also makes a wood Eb contra to low Eb.
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Author: Mark Horne
Date: 2007-11-02 05:18
I've never seen a Selmer contra-alto to low C, but there are some that only go to low E (just like some of their older bass and alto clarinets).
The disadvantage there, besides losing one low note, is that the long B is on the bell - making intonation and clear tone a bit of a challenge.
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