Contrabassoon

Classification Woodwind instrument (double reed) Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (494x1600, 148 KB) contrabassoon Photographed in august 2005 by Mezzofortist File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Contrabassoon Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... A woodwind instrument is a wind instrument in which sound is produced by blowing against an edge or by a vibrating a thin piece of wood known as a reed, and in which the pitch governed by the resonant frequencies of an enclosed air column. ... A double reed is a type of reed used to produce sound in various wind instruments. ... Playing range Related instruments Tenoroon Bassoon Dulcian

The contrabassoon, also contrafagotto or double bassoon, is a larger version of the bassoon sounding an octave lower. Its technique is similar to its smaller cousin, with a few notable differences. The playing range of a musical instrument is the region of pitch in which it can play, i. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... // Small bassoons The bassoon family of double reed woodwind instruments is widely regarded as having only two members, unlike all of the other woodwind families, which have a multitude of varieties. ... The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers and occasionally even higher. ... The dulcian is a Renaissance bass woodwind instrument, with a double reed and a folded conical bore. ... The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers and occasionally even higher. ...

The contrabassoon compared to the bassoon

• The reed is considerably larger, at 70-75 mm in total length as compared to 53-58 mm for most bassoon reeds.
• Fingering is slightly different, particularly at the register change and in the extreme high range.
• The instrument is twice as long, curves around on itself several times, and, due to its weight and shape, is supported by an endpin rather than a seat strap. Additional support is sometimes given by a strap around the player's neck. A wider hand position is also required, as the primary finger keys are widely spaced.
• The contrabassoon has a water key to expel condensation, and a tuning slide for gross pitch adjustments.
• The instrument comes in a few pieces (plus bocal); and can not be disassembled without a screwdriver. Sometimes, however, the bell can be detached and in the case of instruments with a low A extension the instrument often comes in two parts (plus bell and bocal).

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with bassoon. ...

Range

With a range beginning at Bb₀ (extending down a half-step to the lowest note on the piano on instruments with the low A extension), and extending up just over three octaves, the contrabassoon is the deepest available sound in most orchestras. Accordingly, the instrument is notated an octave above sounding pitch in bass clef, with tenor or even (rarely) treble clef called for in high passages. The instrument has a high range extending to middle C, but the top fifth is rarely used. Tonally, it sounds much like the bassoon except for a distinctive organ pedal quality in the lowest octave of its range which provides a solid underpinning to the orchestra. Although the instrument can have a distinct 'buzz', which becomes almost a clatter in the extreme low range, this is nothing more than a variance of tone quality which can be remediated by appropriate reed design changes. While prominent in solo and small ensemble situations, the sound can be completely obscured in the volume of the full orchestra.

History and current use

The contrabassoon was developed in the mid-17th century; the oldest surviving instrument, which came in four parts and had only three keys, was built in 1714. It was around that time that the contrabassoon began gaining acceptance in church music, and by the end of the 18th century it was making its way into British military bands. However, until the late 19th century, the contrabassoon typically had a weak tone and poor intonation. For this reason the contrabass woodwind parts often were scored for, and contrabassoon parts were often played on, contrabass sarrusophone or, less frequently, reed contrabass, until improvements to the contrabassoon by Heckel in the late 19th century secured its place as the standard double reed contrabass. Military Band marching A military band is a group of soldiers assigned to musical duties. ... This is a small-pipe EEb Contrabass Sarrusophone. ... The reed contrabass in C, otherwise known as the contrabass(e) à anche, is a type of woodwind instrument. ...

Currently, contrabassoons are made by Heckel, Fox, Wolf, Moennig, Moosman, Püchner, Adler, Amati and Mollenhauer (and possibly others). Most orchestras use one contrabassoonist, either as a primary player or a bassoonist who doubles, as do a large number of symphonic bands and wind ensembles. An editor has expressed a concern that the subject of the article does not satisfy the notability guideline or one of the following guidelines for inclusion on Wikipedia: Biographies, Books, Companies, Fiction, Music, Neologisms, Numbers, Web content, or several proposals for new guidelines. ... A concert band, also called wind band, symphonic band, symphonic winds, wind orchestra, wind symphony, or wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of several members of the woodwind instrument family, brass instrument family and percussion instrument family. ...

While relatively rare, the instrument is most frequently found in larger symphonies, particularly those of Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss, and Dmitri Shostakovich. The first composer to write a separate contrabassoon part in a symphony was Beethoven, in his Fifth Symphony, although Bach, Handel (in his Music for the Royal Fireworks), Haydn, and Mozart occasionally used it in other genres. Composers have often used the contrabassoon to comical or sinister effect by taking advantage of its clumsiness and its sepulchral rattle, respectively. Clear examples of its sound can be heard in Paul Dukas' Sorcerer's Apprentice and Gunther Schuller's concerto for the instrument. Orchestrally, the contrabassoon is featured in Maurice Ravel's Mother Goose Suite and Piano Concerto for the Left Hand. Other composers to write concerti for the contrabassoon include, Erb, and Aho (and possible others). “Mahler” redirects here. ... This article is about the German composer of tone-poems and operas. ... Dmitri Shostakovich   (Russian: , Dmitrij Dmitrievič Å ostakovič) (September 25 [O.S. September 12] 1906–August 9, 1975) was a Russian composer of the Soviet period. ... Ludwig van Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven (baptized December 17, 1770 – March 26, 1827) was a German composer of Classical music, the predominant musical figure in the transitional period between the Classical and Romantic eras. ... The coversheet to Beethovens 5th Symphony. ... “Bach” redirects here. ... “Handel” redirects here. ... The Fireworks Music (also known as Music for the Royal Fireworks) was composed by George Frideric Handel in 1749 under contract of George II of Great Britain for the celebration fireworks occasion in Londons Green Park on 27 April 1749. ... “Haydn” redirects here. ... “Mozart” redirects here. ... Paul Abraham Dukas (October 1, 1865-May 17, 1935) was a Parisian-born French composer and teacher of classical music. ... Gunther Schuller Gunther Schuller (born November 22, 1925) studied at the St. ... Maurice Ravel. ... Ma Mère lOye (Mother Goose), is a musical work by French composer Maurice Ravel. ... The Piano Concerto for the Left Hand in D major (Concerto pour la main gauche en ré majeur) was composed by Maurice Ravel between 1929 and 1930, concurrently with his Piano Concerto in G Major. ...

The contrabassoon acts as the lowest voice of the woodwind ensemble, though the orchestral tuba can reach lower pitches. It is also often used to support other mixed orchestrations, such as doubling the bass trombone or tuba at the octave. Frequent exponents of such scoring were Brahms and Gustav Mahler. Joseph Haydn also used this instrument in both of his oratorios, The Creation and The Seasons. In these works the part for the contrabassoon and the bass trombone are mostly, but not always, identical. The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. ... For other uses, see Tuba (disambiguation). ... Johannes Brahms Johannes Brahms (May 7, 1833 РApril 3, 1897) was a German composer of classical music. ... Mahler refers to: Alma Maria Mahler-Werfel, or Alma Maria Schindler-Mahler Anna Mahler Arthur Mahler, Austrian archeologist Bruce Mahler, actor David Mahler, composer Eduard Mahler, Austrian astronomer; born in Hungary Gustav Mahler, Bohemian-Austrian composer and conductor Halfdan T. Mahler, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) from... The Creation (German: Die Sch̦pfung) is an oratorio written between 1796 and 1798 by Joseph Haydn, and considered by many to be his masterpiece. ... The Seasons (German: Die Jahreszeiten) is an oratorio by Joseph Haydn (H. 21/3). ...

Contemporary contrabassoonist Susan Nigro has released six albums featuring herself playing the contrabassoon as a virtuoso instrument. The albums include classical concertos, as well as modern tunes, such as The Pink Panther Theme. She affectionately calls the contrabassoon the "big bassoon" in her album titles. Susan Nigro is an American contrabassoonist. ... The Pink Panther Theme is an instrumental composition by Henry Mancini written as the theme for the 1963 film The Pink Panther and subsequently nominated for the 1964 Academy Award for Original Music Score. ...

Notable Contrabassoons

Prof. Dr. Werner Schulze of Austria owns a contrabassoon with an extension to Ab₀, the note a half step below the lowest note on the piano.

Recently, the instrument makers Guntram Wolf and Benedikt Eppelsheim have collaborated in the reworking of the contrabassoon, resulting in a new instrument they call the Contraforte. It has a natural extension down to A₀, and several other features such as silent key movement and an automatic water drain. // The Contraforte is a unique rendition of the common Contrabassoon, which was made to take the already strong and unique sound of the Contrabassoon and make it stronger. ...

Audio Examples

Cello suites (excerpt)
This segment of J.S. Bach's cello suites, played on a contrabassoon.
Problems listening to the file? See media help.

Image File history File links Contra2. ... “Bach” redirects here. ... The violoncello, usually abbreviated to cello, or cello (the c is pronounced as in the ch of check), is a bowed stringed instrument, a member of the violin family. ...

External links

• Contrabassoon technique
• A contrabassoon discography
• Internet Contrabassoon Resource
• The Contraforte, Guntram Wolf/Benedikt Eppelsheim's contrabassoon.

See also

• Bassoon