Cerveny Cimbasso

[Wyvern]

I was browsing the Cerveny range and came across their cimbasso. I do not remember reading anything about them on here, so has anyone tried to see if they are any good?

I have always thought for the amount of potential use, a Meinl-Weston or Haag cimbasso is just not cost justifiable for an individual like myself, but at only 1598 euros (or 1332 euros for you outside the EU) for the 4 valve Cerveny CVT 576-4C, one might just be worth getting? Could be fun!

Surely 4 valves is enough on a cimbasso, because Verdi parts rarely seem to descend lower than C below the staff?

http://www.cerveny.biz/cimbasso/cvt576-4c.php

[finnbogi]

Surely 4 valves is enough on a cimbasso, because Verdi parts rarely seem to descend lower than C below the staff?

It is funny that you mention this now. I played Verdi's Requiem a couple of weeks ago and happened to notice that since the lowest note in the part is a B natural but the bass trombone has a B flat or two, Verdi must have had a three valve F cimbasso in mind when he wrote the part.

We had two rehearsals before the concert and I must admit that I skipped a few octave jumps on the second one (thus descending down to pedal C), but managed to find enough selfcontrol to play the part as written at the concert.

[ZNC Dandy]

Surely 4 valves is enough on a cimbasso, because Verdi parts rarely seem to descend lower than C below the staff?

It is funny that you mention this now. I played Verdi's Requiem a couple of weeks ago and happened to notice that since the lowest note in the part is a B natural but the bass trombone has a B flat or two, Verdi must have had a three valve F cimbasso in mind when he wrote the part.

We had two rehearsals before the concert and I must admit that I skipped a few octave jumps on the second one (thus descending down to pedal C), but managed to find enough selfcontrol to play the part as written at the concert.

The Requiem was the only piece Verdi wrote for tuba, not cimbasso. Everything else is cimbasso.

[J.c. Sherman]

Surely 4 valves is enough on a cimbasso, because Verdi parts rarely seem to descend lower than C below the staff?

It is funny that you mention this now. I played Verdi's Requiem a couple of weeks ago and happened to notice that since the lowest note in the part is a B natural but the bass trombone has a B flat or two, Verdi must have had a three valve F cimbasso in mind when he wrote the part.

We had two rehearsals before the concert and I must admit that I skipped a few octave jumps on the second one (thus descending down to pedal C), but managed to find enough selfcontrol to play the part as written at the concert.

The Requiem was the only piece Verdi wrote for tuba, not cimbasso. Everything else is cimbasso.

Not right either. It's written for Ophicleide, whose lowest note is B. Verdi did not write for the tuba - he actually said directly:


"That bombardon is not a possibility... I cherish a Trombone Basso because it is of the same family as the others; but if it should be too tiring and too difficult to play, try again one of the usual ophicleides that reach low B. In fact, anything you like, but not that damned tuba which does not blend with the others."
-Giuseppe Verdi

[k001k47]

"That bombardon is not a possibility... I cherish a Trombone Basso because it is of the same family as the others; but if it should be too tiring and too difficult to play, try again one of the usual ophicleides that reach low B. In fact, anything you like, but not that damned tuba which does not blend with the others."
-Giuseppe Verdi

"of the same family as the others?"

Same family as the brass or trombone?

A bass trombone sounding better than a tuba playing "low B's"?
Bass Trombone does sound better, AND blends better in that range...



not

[finnbogi]

It's written for Ophicleide, whose lowest note is B.

Quite interesting. That would be a C ophicleide, right?

[J.c. Sherman]

It's written for Ophicleide, whose lowest note is B.

Quite interesting. That would be a C ophicleide, right?

Correct. Bb ophicleides were more common in France and England than anywhere else, but the C was the most common in use throughout Europe. Regardless, if you don't know which ophicleide is going to show up for your piece, you limit the range to Low B.

Oh - and Verdi's "family" he was refering to were the valve trombones in the section. Verdi scored very much with a blending sound rather than a supportive sound for his mature works.

One note - Puccini operas regularly go lower than Verdi's. I have low Gs in La Boheme this week, which would be super sharp and a four-valve F. Gbs also exist in the rep... I think a 4 valve Eb would suffice, as I've never seen a low F or E. Anyone else seen one?

J.c.

[J.c. Sherman]

Verdi's prefered instrument at the time was an upright valved contrabass trombone in BBb. Thanks for the heads up - Likely doing Falstaff in 2010.

J.c.S.

[Geotuba]

Saw Verdi's "Un Ballo in Maschera" at the Met in New York last week - it was played on tuba not cimbasso. Is the cimbasso used much in the USA?

[J.c. Sherman]

It's popularity is growing, but rather unevenly.

Here in Cleveland, the first use was in the opera by John Tabeling. He bought a Cerveny 4v F Bass Bone, and bent it to the floor. Horrid instrument. The instrument was also loaned for Othello to Gary Adams. After I built one, it was used by me or rented for both the Opera and Cleveland Orchestra (Don Carlo) by Ron Bishop.

It's now a mainstay in the opera, on a newer slide instrument I built. I don't know if it'll be used in the orchestra again - time will tell. All the Opera Conductors for the past 5 years have asked for it specifically.

But as it's very expensive to own or rent, and given that a tubist really can't always just pick one up and play it well, they are not all that common... you can't give out a "4th bone part" and not use your contracted tubist. If he playes tuba only... that's what you'll get.

J.c.S.