 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Mitch A
Date: 2002-11-30 14:30
So, I would like to play waaaaay down low. Bari sax, bass clar ain't doing it anymore.
I've seen contra basses described as being in the keys of Eb AND Bb. Are these REALLY different instruments or am I not listening correctly???
Contra alto, contra bass?????
TIA
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2002-11-30 15:10
Okay, I'll try not to be confusing...
There are two main types of contrabass clarinets.
Type 1 is the contra-ALTO (Contralto, whatever it is) which is in the key of Eb. It's more common in concert bands than in orchestras, and is often just called Eb contrabass.
Then there's type 2, the Bb Contra-BASS, which is lower than the contra-alto and not quite as common in symphonic bands. It's used in whatever calls for it.
They are two completely different instruments in two different keys. A contra-alto is one octave below an alto, and the contra-bass is the same with bass.
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Author: Jean
Date: 2002-11-30 15:20
There is a group for people like you which I subscribe to. These folks are truly fanatical (in a good way) about the LOOOOOW instruments. Their URL is www.contrabass.com
Everything you have ever wanted to know about contras can be found here.
Jean
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Author: Jean
Date: 2002-11-30 15:24
There is a group for people like you which I subscribe to. These folks are truly fanatical (in a good way) about the LOOOOOW instruments. Their URL is www.contrabass.com
Everything you have ever wanted to know about contras can be found here.
Jean
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Author: Bill
Date: 2002-12-01 00:12
Go to the LeBlanc web site (gleblanc.com I think). You'll find some "pamphlets" there in either html or pdf. The site is under construction so I don't know which format you'll get. Great pictures & brief descriptions of both contras. I played the "curled" contra bass in my junior year of high school. Trust me, it's a big, bulky, frankensteinian machine. Lots of fun for rattling the floor boards!!
Bill
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Author: Mitch A
Date: 2002-12-01 17:21
On the LaBlanc site, they list the contra alto model 350 as being in BBb. I'll assume that's wrong as it's said to be in EEb elsewhere.
Mitch
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Author: Alphie
Date: 2002-12-01 22:28
Two weeks ago I played together with the only person I know who wrote music for the Octocontrabass clarinet (one octav below the BBb Contra): Terje Lerstad. Does anybody know anybody else who wrote music for this instrument?
For more info about the pieces, go to: http://www.contrabass.com/pages/octobass.html
Alphie
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Author: Willie
Date: 2002-12-01 23:53
Choose one carfully if you are in the market for one. I "hemmed and hawwed" for quite a while over this when I decided to get my own. Since most all my playing is in community and church bands, I decided on the EEb contra as it would be more versitile for me. There are few actual parts for the contras out there except in some of the newest symphonic band scores, so I usually end up with tuba or bari sax parts. Sometimes if a certain part is important to the piece I will get a bassoon or string bass part. This bass clef stuff is easily transposable for the EEb. With the BBb you will either have to try a harder form of transposing or learn to read bass clef very well. I got my EEb Leblanc and don't regert it a bit other than it would be nice if it had low C now and then, but I rarely need it.
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Author: William Hughes
Date: 2002-12-02 14:32
Mitch A:
Low is the way to go and E flat is where it's at! I second Willie's post regarding the versatility of the EEb Contra. Mine is the relatively common Bundy by Selmer tweaked by Dave Spiegalthal...a very sturdy and reliable version of the Contra which can be found on eBay for US$750-$900. Get a good quality mouthpiece (e.g. Selmer C*) properly refaced, work some bari sax reeds down to the proper configuration (there have been several posts on these techniques) and you're all set. Have fun and keep us posted.
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