All The Bass...
January 1, 2017 6:58 AM   Subscribe

Here is the cimbasso, also sometimes known as the bass valve trombone. According to Wikipedia, the cimbasso is a brass instrument in the trombone family, with a sound ranging from warm and mellow to bright and menacing.

While we're here, there's also a more traditional contrabass trombone, a contrabass French horn, contrabass saxophone, and even a subcontrabass saxophone.
posted by 43rdAnd9th (15 comments total) 13 users marked this as a favorite
 
What great piece of music from that Donna Lee, WDR Big Band! And what a fine-sounding, interesting-looking instrument. As for the contrabass trombone and the massive contrabass and subcontrabass saxophones: My thanks to the doughty individuals who build, play and practice these esoteric beasts. I may never hear one, but I'm glad to know that they exist.
posted by Modest House at 7:28 AM on January 1, 2017


Low brass (and their low-woodwind brethren) are the beasts of the orchestra. Long may they blow!!
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 7:36 AM on January 1, 2017 [5 favorites]


It sounds like a trombone controlled with valves but it looks like a draped tentacled beast.
posted by Bee'sWing at 7:54 AM on January 1, 2017


Moon Hooch, one of my favorite bands, often play weird, giant, bass saxophones. NPR Tiny Desk Concert. Other Moon Hooch.

You omitted the word "about" from your title. Bad Internet Memegineer! Bad! Bad!
posted by spacewrench at 8:56 AM on January 1, 2017 [2 favorites]


Every gentleman pictured here with an enormous horn seems enormously happy about it. And who can blame them? What I very much like about the entire species of mutant giant wind tubes is the inordinate ratio of cost, inconvenience and effort in producing, owning and performing with one compared to the tiny part of the musical spectrum over which they operate. Not just in terms of notes, but the paucity of cases where they're not just ho-ho-what-superb-elephantine-farting-noise machines.

Plus, I have an old friend of whom I am particularly fond who is utterly obsessed with both these sorts of things and their mechanically-blown organ equivalents, so I like to imagine everyone who voluntarily engages with the genre is similarly splendid. So far, I have had no reason to doubt this. 43rdAnd9th , you're on the list.
posted by Devonian at 9:20 AM on January 1, 2017


Posted only because timing

So this band plays a bar for New Year's, and they totally crush it. The bar owner is so impressed that he runs up as they're breaking down and says to the band leader, "You guys were great! I know it's a little early, but whaddaya think are the chances I could get you for next New Year's?"

The band leader responds, "chances are good I think, let me just check with the guys." So he asks the bassist and the bassist says "sure, that's great!" And he asks the drummer and the drummer says "I got nothing booked, right on." And he asks the trombone player, and the trombone player responds, "sure, I think. Just, I got one question."

Band leader: "what's that?"

Trombone player: "You think it's cool I leave my stuff here?"
posted by 7segment at 9:44 AM on January 1, 2017 [11 favorites]


but it looks like a draped tentacled beast

Yeah, my first thought was what a colossal PITA that thing must be to clean, both inside and out!
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:51 AM on January 1, 2017


The cimbassos are really cool looking (and sounding) but, when I look at the pictures, all I can think is "Why don't any of them have some sort of shoulder mount built into them?"
posted by Thorzdad at 11:35 AM on January 1, 2017


You omitted the word "about" from your title. Bad Internet Memegineer! Bad! Bad!

And walked right past: "All your bass are belong to us"?
posted by Insert Clever Name Here at 12:42 PM on January 1, 2017 [3 favorites]


I immediately sent this to my son, in marching band and drum line (his main instrument is the trumpet). He is bypassing jazz band this year, which bums me out, because he had a great solo last year that just blew me away. I never thought to see his skill improve so much by ninth grade, with no private lessons.
posted by Brocktoon at 2:05 PM on January 1, 2017


This looks like something in And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street by Dr. Seuss.
posted by 4ster at 3:21 PM on January 1, 2017 [1 favorite]


Why do I hear this in Ze Frank's voice? "Here are true facts about the cimbasso."
posted by Bruce H. at 6:19 PM on January 1, 2017 [2 favorites]


Game of Thrones theme rearranged for 3 Cimbassos, 11 Bass Trombones, 6 Contrabass Trombones, 6 Tenor Trombones, and 6 Tubas. Impressive!
posted by seawallrunner at 6:51 PM on January 1, 2017 [2 favorites]


You flouted the flautists!
Contrabass flute
Game of Thrones on fife, flute, alto flute, bass flute, contrabass flute.
Subcontrabass flute
posted by The Almighty Mommy Goddess at 2:01 PM on January 2, 2017 [1 favorite]


MOON HOOOOCH!!! 1 ! ! Also, this. Gets a little NSFW near the end. Spoiler alert.
posted by technodelic at 7:06 PM on January 2, 2017


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