Cimbasso

[ztuba]

Bruckner 7

[ztuba]

Someone needs to write a piece for 3 flugelhorns, 2 alto horns, 4 Wagner tubas, 2 baritones, 2 saxhorns, 2euphoniums, 2 bass tubas in Eb treble clef and 2 in bass clef, and 4 contrabass tuba to be played on even mix of BBb and CC

[ztuba]

And 2 tenorhorns

[Trumgottist]

I thought tenor horn = alto horn? (I.e. the Eb-instrument found in the middle of British-style brass bands.)

[sloan]

Can someone clear up a question for me: what, exactly, is a cimbasso and where might I use one?

[Z-Tuba Dude]

Can someone clear up a question for me: what, exactly, is a cimbasso and where might I use one?

Here's the first part of the answer:

[Z-Tuba Dude]

Also, for Verdi and Puccini, Mr. Fossi told me that he prefers the cerveny because it is the most conical of all the cimbassos he had played at the time. In fact his YouTube videos of cimbasso excerpts are on that Cerveny. However, JVH in California says that they are not well suited for studio stuff and prefers the Rudy CC and that new Kanstul is going to also be a serious contender not only on ability to smoke the orchestra but also blend with the strings when required.

That is interesting to me; it seems that since the "tuba on a stick" cimbasso is a relatively new instrument, that the "playing conventions" jury is still out.

Someone, in another thread, commented that certain YouTube cimbasso performances sounded too "tuba like", which begs the question: What comprises the "ideal" cimbasso sound? Should it be more of a trombone sound, or a baritone sound? Furthermore, who decides what the "ideal" cimbasso sounds like?

It would be interesting to hear more people with cimbassos, playing on YouTube. I think it would help people develop a collective concept, of what a cimbasso should sound like!

[Todd S. Malicoate]

Furthermore, who decides what the "ideal" cimbasso sounds like?

The guy writing the checks. Certainly no one else claiming to be an "expert" on 19th century brass performance practice.

Todd "who wonders why no one, it seems, is bothered by the use of a euphonium for The Planets" S. Malicoate

[Z-Tuba Dude]

Furthermore, who decides what the "ideal" cimbasso sounds like?

The guy writing the checks.

Fair enough, but what measure does that guy use, to decide who's cimbasso sound is superior?

[Todd S. Malicoate]

Fair enough, but what measure does that guy use, to decide who's cimbasso sound is superior?

Whatever he likes, and don't expect it to be consistent.

To expand further upon that thought: Imagine a hypothetical audition for a cimbasso job for a run of Verdi's Attila. Do you think the guy that best represents the sound Verdi would have heard and/or desired would win the audition?

I sure don't.

[Todd S. Malicoate]

Not with a smaller than bass trombone size bore cimbasso.

Exactly.

[TubadudeCA]

So what is the bore of a Cimbasso anyway?

[Kevin Hendrick]

So what is the bore of a Cimbasso anyway?

Forty-two ...

[TubadudeCA]

So what is the bore of a Cimbasso anyway?

Forty-two ...

I thought fourty-two was the meaning of life??

[Bove]

These are all excellent suggestions.

[quesonegro]

It's easy to make fun of the instrument, mostly due to the fact that so few have had a chance to play one. Even fewer have actually spent enough time with it to be able to play it on a professional level. I think one of the great things about an instrument where the function isn't necessarily so clearly defined (apart from the use in italian opera) is that we can make our own way with it. Pave the way and define it ourselves, if we have the balls/ovaries to do so! Andrew Bove is a great example, he made the worlds first solo cimbasso album...that's a great first step, it's up to the rest of us to take the next ones!!

Respectfully

//Mattis Cederberg