As a contra player myself, the contra solo in Mahler 9 is one of the hardest contra solos in my opinion in orchestral repertoire, and he sounded amazing on it.
It's not an accident that musicians pick the instruments they do, Dear Summer - humans always look for reflections of themselves even if, albeit, unknowingly.
I kinda wish they would play a sample right off the bat, maybe ten seconds or so, before explaining more about the instrument. It's all great info, especially for people who aren't acquainted with instruments, but I think it would help with video interest to hear what the instrument sounds like before delving into specifics.
Well, there is only 1:30 of wait until you get to hear it. Obviously waiting that long shouldn’t have been too much of an issue, yet, it is? If you weren’t going to watch the whole video, that is understandable, but, you could have just skipped over to the playing parts. If you watch the whole video it shouldn’t matter when he plays the instrument.
Love the Contrabassoon! When composing, I ALWAYS give these guys the bass line! I really love bass instruments (as I play the tuba), but this instrument is just amazing!
Jacob Nachimswag Well, I play Bb/CC and Eb is only really used in Brass Bands from my experience and I do love them. Tubas above all. Tuba Master Race.
The contrabass recorder has the smoothest sound by far. Though with all the deep wind instruments you can get anything from a hum to a rasp depending on embouchure. (I play baritone saxophone and contrabass recorder amongst other things)
im still waiting for him to play the instrument... its great to know all this info, but these vids should start with them playing the instrument to hear what it sounds like for us to reference what they are talking about.
+Wesley Hyzell You never know... furthermore there is already a piece composed for the subcontrabassoon, so it could become the next big thing... literally.
You only really see them in serious college level bands and above. Not a whole lot of pieces are written for Contra, which is why most Contra players will have their standard bassoon on their stand next to them when playing
Why did you dislike, 19 youtubers? What possible thing made you dislike this? The video quality is fine, the topic is marvelous, the explanation is decent. Why?
@@philharmonia_orchestra The range of the Contrabassoon is the same as a Standard Bassoon but an octave Lower. The highest note is sounding Middle C but it's actually the Top C from the rite of spring by Stravinsky. Some contrabassoons have an extra key to extend the range down to Low A which is actually the Lowest Note on a Piano.
That's a musical instrument you don't often get to see. I once tried to blow into a bassoon once in high school but as mentioned I had no experience with the bassoon whatsoever, and it was awkward to play. Given the experience I had with the bassoon, I'm going to have to say that as much as I love the deeper sound of the contrabassoon, I probably would not want to play the contrabassoon, because the bassoon was awkward enough to play, and if I play the contrabassoon, I would have an even harder and even more awkward time with it, which is why I probably will not play the contrabassoon, but I play something else that plays in the same sub bass register as the contrabassoon, but it's a brass instrument, and that is the tuba, . It plays in the exact same octave as the contrabassoon, the only difference is the contrabassoon is a woodwind instrument. Both instruments (tuba, and contrabassoon) play the lowest notes, but while the contrabassoon has a much reedier sound, and its tone can sound much darker and more haunting, the tuba has a much brassier sound, and its tone is much smoother, much brighter, and more powerful. I do enjoy hearing the sound of both the tuba and contrabassoon equally, but if I was asked "which instrument would you rather play, the tuba, or the contrabassoon?", I would always have to answer by saying I'd rather play the tuba. While both the tuba and contrabassoon play in the exact sub bass register, I'd pick the tuba because it's a brass instrument and at least it's much easier for me to play especially considering I had more experience with brass instruments than woodwind instruments.
Thank you for this wonderful interesting video. I commend the Philharmonia Orchestra for this and many other videos that introduce and describe orchestral instruments so well. I am interested in how contrabassoon players feel about the contraforte and its apparent rise in popularity. Excited? Worried?
I wish I more expose to musical instruments growing up, I was more expose to rock and roll and classical music. This is a beautiful instrument, I hope I hear more of i classical or film acores
I love the bassoon family! I think they sound like the voices of trees and that low end of the contrabassoon sounds like a baobab tree or a sequoia. Big, deep, squat, wide, and woody.
As a bassoon player (not a bassoonist yet) I sometimes have to play the contrabassoon in the orchestra and having to carry a bassoon and a contrabassoon at the same time is the hardest thing ever
Never once in that piece does it call for the contrabassoonist to play a bottom B-flat. Frankly, I didn’t understand that as it could double the lowest piano notes, but Respighi was the master of orchestration. And BTW contrabassoon doesn’t enter in that piece until Mvt. 2
So if it goes as high as a bassoon... but of course goes so much lower, why aren't all bassoonists playing the contra? Would seem to give far more options? Out is it a tonal preference issue? The contra is also harder to intonate, no? Anyway, I love the instrument. So expensive though... I'd play one if someone gave it to me! But the cost is prohibitive otherwise...
Luke, you played an extremely competent Middle C (C4) in this video. Are there any Orchestra pieces that require that note (thus making the Contrabassoon player read Tenor Clef)? The highest note I've ever seen in a Dover Score was the G below. Thanks!
Hi Kenneth, thank you! Well, bearing in mind that even Beethoven writes the A one step above the G you're referring to in the Missa Solemnis, there are other occasions. Schoenberg writes at least up to the B natural just below (if not the C) in Gurrelieer, and I'm sure if I wracked my brain I could could find a couple more examples. Like with the bassoon the more you find you can do, the further composers will push the limits...
Are the fingerings for the Contrabasoon different from the Bassoon? I've heard that the fingerings are flipped etc. also, is it much harder to play as compared to the Bassoon?
Hi Jason, The fingering system is essentially based on that of the Bassoon, but the difference being that it sounds an octave lower. This is to allow players to switch between the two instruments without too much difficulty. The Contrabassoon does differ to the Bassoon in the upper register (above written middle C) somewhat, but this is because the instruments don't behave, acoustically, in the same way. Luke says that it isn't necessarily 'harder', but that it requires a different approach - both musically and physically. As you can probably tell, due to its size, more breath is required due to the volume of air inside the instrument. The player should also think differently in that it should be seen as its own instrument rather than an 'extended' version of the Bassoon.
Get involved in our #popupplanets! We want to see you playing your favourite extract of Holst's The Planets and you have a chance to win a pair of tickets to our concert in London on Saturday 1 Oct: th-cam.com/video/9UY29P2CW1o/w-d-xo.html
I mean in Pictures at an exhibition there’s some lovey contrabassoon parts. But bolero is literally just the same two notes over and over and over and over again.
@@tenor1190 What about oboe, flute, bassoon, oboe d’amore, English horn, the three types of saxophones, etc. I mean yes the part in Mother Goose is famous and very good. And pictures at an exhibition. I wouldn’t say bolero is bad for everyone, but you’re right. Ravel did write good contra parts
I was first chair Bassoon in highschool. That is, until someone else came along who could scale without bursting a blood vessel in their eye. Then I thanked her for liberating me, and sat in the back where I belonged, my Triangle poised, just waiting for that last note... My time to shine!!😉😆
@@philharmonia_orchestra Here's a fun fact, Did you know, the contrabassoon was actually heard in a classic Disney film from 1953, called Peter Pan, and it plays when the crocodiles arrive? th-cam.com/video/iNiJ8VpNOgw/w-d-xo.html, but nowadays, the contrabassoon is uncommon in the orchestra, and the tuba was more common. Sometimes the contrabassoon can play the same parts as the tuba and the string bass in music. Another interesting thing is that the contrabassoon is a transposing instrument, whereas the tuba is not a transposing instrument.
It is not present in the music of Haydn, Mozart or before. Beethoven used it in the Fifth and the Ninth, as well as the Missa Solemnis. Beyond that, in the Romantic period, it was used quite often and is now a part of the orchestra.
Actually, it appears in Haydn (the Creation, the seasons) and Mozart (Masonic funeral music) and also in Handel "music for the royal fireworks" - in some strength of number!
MattTheBandKid Have a look into the Double Contrabass Flute which is quite a rare instrument, or the Hyperbass Flute which apparently descends below the accepted frequency range of human hearing (20Hz - 20kHz).
Hi, thanks for the suggestion. It's a great idea. We don't have immediate plans to make period instrument films because it's a bit outside our repertoire, but our friends in London, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, have some instrument films you might find useful: th-cam.com/play/PLa0I2f4DpWlonE2ESxBKRg8Ft-ttK4_Eh.html
Is there a 'resonant' note down near the 'B flat 4' ? --- if not, then the effective length of that contrabassoon (from reed to bell) is over 19.25 feet.
NEW INSTRUMENT FILMS: Hi everyone! We’re about to embark on making some new instrument films and we want to hear from you! What instruments do you want to see covered? Reply within the next week! Thanks for watching!
Having to breathe every two or three bars is something I have to do when singing Alto range (I usually sing in the low Tenor range); so this technique is not limited to contrabassoon.
I saw someone combine a contrabassoon with french horns to make a growly bass and after hearing how low my contrabassoon vst went, I had to look it up and see what this beast looks like in real life
![ร้อยพ่อพันแม่ - WanMai [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/XY2pNYASEbg/mqdefault.jpg)
As a contra player myself, the contra solo in Mahler 9 is one of the hardest contra solos in my opinion in orchestral repertoire, and he sounded amazing on it.
he sounds like his instrument
Boring? I agree.
Maybe it's like pet ownership, people begin to resemble their pets over time.
The contrabassoon is not a boring instrument, quite the contrary, but there is a more lively way of presenting it.
This one is much better th-cam.com/video/Drn6bP9lFgg/w-d-xo.html
It's not an accident that musicians pick the instruments they do, Dear Summer - humans always look for reflections of themselves even if, albeit, unknowingly.
I kinda wish they would play a sample right off the bat, maybe ten seconds or so, before explaining more about the instrument. It's all great info, especially for people who aren't acquainted with instruments, but I think it would help with video interest to hear what the instrument sounds like before delving into specifics.
Yes!!!! And books should have more pictures and coloring sections :)
Well, there is only 1:30 of wait until you get to hear it. Obviously waiting that long shouldn’t have been too much of an issue, yet, it is? If you weren’t going to watch the whole video, that is understandable, but, you could have just skipped over to the playing parts. If you watch the whole video it shouldn’t matter when he plays the instrument.
Agree, this one is much better th-cam.com/video/Drn6bP9lFgg/w-d-xo.html
What do you expect from the British ?normalcy, taste, efficiency lol
@@Dannyisgreatful Idiot!
It has such a scratchy, harmonic growl... a uniquely voiced instrument.
I thought you spoke about the guy
the contrabassoon was cool too
At some points like when he mentioned ligato it sounded like a double bass.
Worlds most expensive paper clip
It's not a paper clip though. What ignorance.
Mark Juarez it's a joke -_-
Mark Juarez someone got triggered
In French we call a paper clip "trombone", as for the brass instrument !
I Am Not Okayonetta ever seen the paperclip contrabass clarinet?
I’m a bassoonist but I’ve ALWAYS wanted to play a low Bb on one of these things
And I’ve met Luke and he’s very nice
Same
I'm glad I play a little trombone, easy to carry, no reeds, beautiful fart sound. It's like it was built for me
Bernardo solano rodriguez beautiful fart sound omg you made me cry from laughing i play trombone and this is way too true
you call that a fart?
i play tuba ;)
@@sabin97 YOU call that a fart i play contrabass trombone
Hardyz contrabass trombone is just a easier to play tuba.
The trombone can actually make a pretty sound. (Not the tromboon.)
Love the Contrabassoon! When composing, I ALWAYS give these guys the bass line! I really love bass instruments (as I play the tuba), but this instrument is just amazing!
+Overworld Nether Same Here! Contrabassoons are perfect for adding depth to a piece! No song would sound the same without bass instruments!
+Blue Powerade too true. Its the only instrument that is almost equal to the tuba.
+Blue Powerade bass for life!
Jacob Nachimswag Well, I play Bb/CC and Eb is only really used in Brass Bands from my experience and I do love them. Tubas above all. Tuba Master Race.
+Overworld Nether Contrabassoon is lower than my F tuba that I use for solos but got to love the lowbrass and lowreeds
"Your body's natural reflex which is to breathe, you have to learn to fight" hahaha
Woah. their highest note is my lowest (I’m a flautist) that’s crazy.
Yeah!
out of all Contrabass instruments, The Contrabasoon and Contrabass Flute have the smoothest and most pleasant sound to me.
The contrabass recorder has the smoothest sound by far. Though with all the deep wind instruments you can get anything from a hum to a rasp depending on embouchure. (I play baritone saxophone and contrabass recorder amongst other things)
@@Zepheriah the contrabass recorder is so nice and low but I don't thinks it's very loud
That B-flat tho
It’s like a cruise ship’s horn
@@Thom176 Some Contrabassoons have an extra key to extend the range down to a Low A which is actually the Lowest Note on a Piano.
@Robert Lavelle Well some Contrabassoons have an extra key to extend the range down to an A0 same lowest note as on a Piano.
@Robert Lavelle The Sub contrabassoon is pitched 2 octaves below a regular bassoon. Its Lowest note is an A-1 which is less than 17 HZ.
"rich"
I'm playing the bassoon in school, and I'm going to play the contrabassoon soon!
hey there gentlefolk redstone miner person. you wrote this 6 years ago, mind telling us how it went? did you learn and play it in the end? :D
Yo what tf happened you still playing mate?
How's it goin, buddy...? :D
im still waiting for him to play the instrument...
its great to know all this info, but these vids should start with them playing the instrument to hear what it sounds like for us to reference what they are talking about.
Amazing!! I have never heard of the contrabassoon before, but now I am in love. Luke, you are an absolute superstar!!!
love the sound of this instrument
Beautiful and soulful instrument.
The sound is comparable to that of a double bass. So beautiful.
That's great! It's a wonderful instrument isn't it!
Some contrabassoons have an extra key to extend the range down to a Low A. The Subcontrabassoon actually sounds 2 octaves lower than written.
Ok we get it
@@RockStarOscarStern634 Hey, subcontrabassoon supporter fam!
@@TheoSKMultitracks The Subcontrabassoon has the same range as a Standard Bassoon but 2 Octaves lower.
@@RockStarOscarStern634 I'm fully aware of that xD. I watch Richard Bobo's stuff too
Really well described and played by Mr. Whitehead! He must have the lung capacity of a marathon runner with that ultra low note range...
falxonPSN Contrabassoon surprisingly doesn’t take much air
@@Jackson-sr7ms because the gap between the two reeds is small
I never knew Contrabassoon's existed!
iv heard of Bassoons but never a ContraBassoon
What about a SUBcontrabassoon? www.subcontrabassoon.com
Vegetarian Swag
*mind blown* haha that's amazing! :P
+Vegetarian Swag
But there would not be a practical use for it at all... Just like with a Tubax.
+Wesley Hyzell You never know... furthermore there is already a piece composed for the subcontrabassoon, so it could become the next big thing... literally.
You only really see them in serious college level bands and above. Not a whole lot of pieces are written for Contra, which is why most Contra players will have their standard bassoon on their stand next to them when playing
Why did you dislike, 19 youtubers? What possible thing made you dislike this? The video quality is fine, the topic is marvelous, the explanation is decent. Why?
+epicdragon202 Impossible to understand. Just let it go
They listened at too high a volume and heard the brown note
epicdragon202 There is always one reason to dislike something. It may be hard to understand, but it’s true?
That high C sounded like he was playing a clarinet
Saxophone, that's what I heard
It's actually the High C from the Rite Of Spring by Stravinsky
@@ocularzombie6679 Me too
Excellent - like the other Philharmonia vids. Luke describes the instrument and the player's experience clearly and sympathetically.
Julie Mullen Thank you for your nice feedback!
Agreed! :)
@@philharmonia_orchestra The range of the Contrabassoon is the same as a Standard Bassoon but an octave Lower. The highest note is sounding Middle C but it's actually the Top C from the rite of spring by Stravinsky. Some contrabassoons have an extra key to extend the range down to Low A which is actually the Lowest Note on a Piano.
Very informative! Thank you so much! You are helping me make a choice to take up learning how to play this instrument.
We're so glad you enjoyed and learnt from this video!
2:24 Excuse me. Now here's what it actually sounds like
and at 1:29
Hahaah
HAHAHA😅
At that point my bowels started to empty themself.
I’ve always wanted one! Such an exciting instrument! Foundational sound but sooo beautiful and melodic
A lot smoother sound than a bass tuba, yes?
Excellent information! Especially the parts explaining how it is used in combination with other instruments in the orchestra!
+Ben Rawles Thanks Ben, we're glad you enjoyed the video.
Contrabasson + bass trombone + tuba is such a meaty texture in orchestral writing
What a great series you folks have produced! It's great to hear musicians talk about their instruments and demonstrate the tricky bits.
Your voice is very comforting
That's a musical instrument you don't often get to see. I once tried to blow into a bassoon once in high school but as mentioned I had no experience with the bassoon whatsoever, and it was awkward to play. Given the experience I had with the bassoon, I'm going to have to say that as much as I love the deeper sound of the contrabassoon, I probably would not want to play the contrabassoon, because the bassoon was awkward enough to play, and if I play the contrabassoon, I would have an even harder and even more awkward time with it, which is why I probably will not play the contrabassoon, but I play something else that plays in the same sub bass register as the contrabassoon, but it's a brass instrument, and that is the tuba, . It plays in the exact same octave as the contrabassoon, the only difference is the contrabassoon is a woodwind instrument. Both instruments (tuba, and contrabassoon) play the lowest notes, but while the contrabassoon has a much reedier sound, and its tone can sound much darker and more haunting, the tuba has a much brassier sound, and its tone is much smoother, much brighter, and more powerful. I do enjoy hearing the sound of both the tuba and contrabassoon equally, but if I was asked "which instrument would you rather play, the tuba, or the contrabassoon?", I would always have to answer by saying I'd rather play the tuba. While both the tuba and contrabassoon play in the exact sub bass register, I'd pick the tuba because it's a brass instrument and at least it's much easier for me to play especially considering I had more experience with brass instruments than woodwind instruments.
Thank you for this wonderful interesting video. I commend the Philharmonia Orchestra for this and many other videos that introduce and describe orchestral instruments so well. I am interested in how contrabassoon players feel about the contraforte and its apparent rise in popularity. Excited? Worried?
I wish I more expose to musical instruments growing up, I was more expose to rock and roll and classical music. This is a beautiful instrument, I hope I hear more of i classical or film acores
even his voice is sonorous
It is beautiful... :'O
PEARL!
i love this series. this vid is my favorite
I think the main melody from the Tick Tock crocodile's theme in Peter Pan was played on a contrabassoon. It's so infectious.
Can you link it or name the title? I must see that!
So precious, instrument and player, thanks. Best wishes.
Very nice instrument love the low sounds
"We can Flutter Tongue... *growls instead*"
Flutter tonguing is using your tongue, growling is using your vocal chords. Subtle difference, but important.
I can assure you, that was genuine flutter-tongue. That's just what it sounds like at low pitch!
@@lukewhitehead5430 ufghhgv
Thank you for the demonstration Jack Davenport.
Holy shit, this dude's voice is so deep, fits his instrument perfectly!
I love that i can't even play the piano, but this man, amazing man, can play the Contrabassoon.
As a guy who plays an unhealthy amount of instruments, piano is too hard for me don't worry
@@tristanperciful6609 cool
@@tristanperciful6609 Which instruments do you play?
I love the bassoon family! I think they sound like the voices of trees and that low end of the contrabassoon sounds like a baobab tree or a sequoia. Big, deep, squat, wide, and woody.
a very calming talk and playing, I'm sure I'll sleep well tonight thanks to Luke :)
Bassoon for life
What you meant to say was bari sax for life
Hi, I'm Luke Whitehead, and this is *the Controversy*
Great demonstration, thank you.
Now this is a proper man's instrument!
soberhippie: a proper mans instrument is a Bari sax
nope, it's violin lol
Realistic Idealist boy
Nope, a proper man's instrument is what ever he decides he wants to play and screw all the haters. :)
soberhippie tuba
That's an awesome instrument! I love it!
beautiful voice as well
This instrument is so cool
I am a bassoonist and it is my lifelong dream to play a contra bassoon lol
1:29. Too Bad YOU LOSE!
Lol best comment
During wartime this doubles as a rocket launcher
What a beautiful thing.
As a bassoon player (not a bassoonist yet) I sometimes have to play the contrabassoon in the orchestra and having to carry a bassoon and a contrabassoon at the same time is the hardest thing ever
2:25 that low B-Flat was used in the beginning of "Pines of Rome".
Never once in that piece does it call for the contrabassoonist to play a bottom B-flat. Frankly, I didn’t understand that as it could double the lowest piano notes, but Respighi was the master of orchestration. And BTW contrabassoon doesn’t enter in that piece until Mvt. 2
This is the 2nd video in my feed about Contrabassoons.
Such an awesome instrument.
So if it goes as high as a bassoon... but of course goes so much lower, why aren't all bassoonists playing the contra? Would seem to give far more options? Out is it a tonal preference issue? The contra is also harder to intonate, no?
Anyway, I love the instrument.
So expensive though... I'd play one if someone gave it to me! But the cost is prohibitive otherwise...
2:54 Top C which sounds as Middle C on Keyboard, not a bad sound, a very warm mellow sound.
Fascinating instrument I didn’t realize there were modernized contrabassoons
Luke, you played an extremely competent Middle C (C4) in this video. Are there any Orchestra pieces that require that note (thus making the Contrabassoon player read Tenor Clef)? The highest note I've ever seen in a Dover Score was the G below. Thanks!
Hi Kenneth, thank you! Well, bearing in mind that even Beethoven writes the A one step above the G you're referring to in the Missa Solemnis, there are other occasions. Schoenberg writes at least up to the B natural just below (if not the C) in Gurrelieer, and I'm sure if I wracked my brain I could could find a couple more examples. Like with the bassoon the more you find you can do, the further composers will push the limits...
How fast can a contrabassoon play on the lower register? like scale runs?
Love this instrument
love the contra i play regular bassoon but would love to move up to this :)
Wow Me too
Waylynn Dunn
I love your use of the word “up”.
Are the fingerings for the Contrabasoon different from the Bassoon? I've heard that the fingerings are flipped etc. also, is it much harder to play as compared to the Bassoon?
Hi Jason,
The fingering system is essentially based on that of the Bassoon, but the difference being that it sounds an octave lower. This is to allow players to switch between the two instruments without too much difficulty.
The Contrabassoon does differ to the Bassoon in the upper register (above written middle C) somewhat, but this is because the instruments don't behave, acoustically, in the same way.
Luke says that it isn't necessarily 'harder', but that it requires a different approach - both musically and physically. As you can probably tell, due to its size, more breath is required due to the volume of air inside the instrument. The player should also think differently in that it should be seen as its own instrument rather than an 'extended' version of the Bassoon.
I would absolutely love to play this but sadly my school does not own one
Listen to the incidental music of "The Flintstones". You'll hear a lot of great Contrabassoon parts.
That's usually Fred walking or trying to be devious.
Alot of cartoons use contrabasson spongebob uses that instrument alot
Get involved in our #popupplanets! We want to see you playing your favourite extract of Holst's The Planets and you have a chance to win a pair of tickets to our concert in London on Saturday 1 Oct: th-cam.com/video/9UY29P2CW1o/w-d-xo.html
oh man......what a beauty !!
According to me, the most beautiful pieces for this instrument come from Ravel's hand...
I mean in Pictures at an exhibition there’s some lovey contrabassoon parts. But bolero is literally just the same two notes over and over and over and over again.
@@RyanEntnerMusic bolero sucks for everyone it doesn't count
@@tenor1190 What about oboe, flute, bassoon, oboe d’amore, English horn, the three types of saxophones, etc. I mean yes the part in Mother Goose is famous and very good. And pictures at an exhibition. I wouldn’t say bolero is bad for everyone, but you’re right. Ravel did write good contra parts
@@RyanEntnerMusicfair enough I just really hate bolero haha.
What an amazing instrument this is!
So much more intriguing than the bassoon.
When will you do a euphonium video?
unfortunatly the euph is not in the orchestra
Nev Not. Yet.
What is the name of the piece at 5:54?
I would like to study the orchestration
It's Stravinsky's The Firebird!
@@philharmonia_orchestra Thank you ! I knew it sounded super familiar.
Your gonna need CPR after playing that
I was first chair Bassoon in highschool. That is, until someone else came along who could scale without bursting a blood vessel in their eye. Then I thanked her for liberating me, and sat in the back where I belonged, my Triangle poised, just waiting for that last note... My time to shine!!😉😆
😀 Thanks for this story!
@@philharmonia_orchestra Here's a fun fact, Did you know, the contrabassoon was actually heard in a classic Disney film from 1953, called Peter Pan, and it plays when the crocodiles arrive? th-cam.com/video/iNiJ8VpNOgw/w-d-xo.html, but nowadays, the contrabassoon is uncommon in the orchestra, and the tuba was more common. Sometimes the contrabassoon can play the same parts as the tuba and the string bass in music. Another interesting thing is that the contrabassoon is a transposing instrument, whereas the tuba is not a transposing instrument.
I have been attracted to this instrument, using it in many of my music. It's because of Beethoven's 5th Symphony.
Beethoven wrote for this instrument in his 5th Symphony? When did the contrabassoon join the orchestra? Do most orchestral works call for it?
It is not present in the music of Haydn, Mozart or before. Beethoven used it in the Fifth and the Ninth, as well as the Missa Solemnis. Beyond that, in the Romantic period, it was used quite often and is now a part of the orchestra.
Actually, it appears in Haydn (the Creation, the seasons) and Mozart (Masonic funeral music) and also in Handel "music for the royal fireworks" - in some strength of number!
@@Symphing12 emmmmm, nope. Handel used it in his simphonies.
@@DFdezdeMarticorenaGallego It's funny, but I had recently seen this as well.
Just beautiful, dream instrument
Wow!
Awesome video! I’m actually writing a piece about the pandemic that uses a contrabassoon solo.
Finally, I understand the instrument that hits the low notes in Banjo Tooie
I'm pretty sure that was a saxophone
The hateful 8
+Mistic Mike The Hateful Bassoon
That low note made me chuckle a bit, however very cool instrument!
I love this vid! it explained everything clearly!
Well bassoon has a very nice sound and one of my fav. instruments but it's a little heavy
what is or was the truely lowest conta intrument. im thinkking its the octacotralto but is there a subcontra tuba?
Yes there are in fact a few subcontra tubas. The only one I know for sure was built was in the key of F and took two players to play.
MattTheBandKid Have a look into the Double Contrabass Flute which is quite a rare instrument, or the Hyperbass Flute which apparently descends below the accepted frequency range of human hearing (20Hz - 20kHz).
This instrument is a beautiful work of art, even if it never made a sound. I bet this is used in "Peter and the Wolf".
+Philharmonia Orchestra , can you do instrument guides on baroque instruments? Ex: Baroque violin, harpsichord...etc
Hi, thanks for the suggestion. It's a great idea. We don't have immediate plans to make period instrument films because it's a bit outside our repertoire, but our friends in London, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, have some instrument films you might find useful: th-cam.com/play/PLa0I2f4DpWlonE2ESxBKRg8Ft-ttK4_Eh.html
Is there a 'resonant' note down near the 'B flat 4' ? --- if not, then the effective length of that contrabassoon (from reed to bell) is over 19.25 feet.
NEW INSTRUMENT FILMS: Hi everyone! We’re about to embark on making some new instrument films and we want to hear from you! What instruments do you want to see covered? Reply within the next week! Thanks for watching!
Suggestion:
You guys should show off the Contrabass Clarinet
and maybe the Harpsichord and Piano
...and maybe some more Percussion
BARI SAX
Expanding Flan, it's the "Infernal Dance of King Kastchei" from Stravinsky's "Firebird".
This is the instrument that makes the ominous tone in the hateful 8's score
Having to breathe every two or three bars is something I have to do when singing Alto range (I usually sing in the low Tenor range); so this technique is not limited to contrabassoon.
it almost sounds like a string bass 4:02
I has the same range as string bass.
I saw someone combine a contrabassoon with french horns to make a growly bass and after hearing how low my contrabassoon vst went, I had to look it up and see what this beast looks like in real life
That's like something straight out of final fantasy