HKO Screen - Lewis Lipnick
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ม.ค. 2025
- Lew Lipnick, Principal Contrabassoon in the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington, DC talks about the contraforte - the new wind instrument he played as the soloist with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra at the Helsinki Music Centre on February 29 and March 1, 2012.
![[Japanese subtitles] The moment when a souvenir from Tokyo wins](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/CIkZEU2XwnM/mqdefault.jpg)
Can we all agree that these really low winds are some of the coolest instruments. I’d just recently gotten my hands on my high school’s Noblet paper clip contrabass clarinet and it’s one of the coolest instruments I’ve ever played
Paperclip instruments are so cool. I don't personally like the normal contrabass clarinet shape.
"It's actually a work of art when you look at it."
I agree, that was the first thing I thought when I saw it, that it's a beautiful instrument. I especially like the sound of the middle register.
Thanks for demonstrating the instrument and explaining it's origins.
If bassoon was in g clef would it just be called the oon
ben scarbrough trebloon
I feel so dumb and now I will never be capable of being successful in life
I'm sorry to hear that.
It's actually called the tenderloin
Tenorloon*
High octave = Bari sax
Low octave = Brand new beast
Terran Spears I
The bari sax is an E flat. A bass sax is an octave lower than the tenor. The contrabass sax is an octave lower than the bari. And the subcontrabass saxophone is an octave lower than the bass sax
@@milkman9314 I thought an octave lower than the bari was the Contrabari sax with Contrabass being an octave lower than Bass
@@James.D.B. lol it's goes soprillo, sopranino, soprano, mezzo soprano F, Alto, c Melody, tenor, F Conn o sax, bari, C bass, bass, contrabass, subcontrabass
@@milkman9314. God. Don’t put all the C and F saxes. No one uses them. It’s Soprillo, Sopranino, soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, contrabass, subcontrabass, every other one is an octave lower alternating Bb and Eb.
What a treat. I learned more about an instrument I had always heard of since the time I was in 6th grade band class in the fall of 1978 but had never seen. I've heard these sounds in movie scores throughout my life and suspected they were made by a contrabassoon, but was never sure. Why did I wait so long? Fascinating. We only had band in my district when I was a student and nobody could afford one of these monsters even though I was in a pretty affluent school district.
Great to see Lew Lipnick is still playing and has become an expert on the contrabassoon. I was lucky enough to have Lew as a bassoon teacher back in 1972 - 1973. IIRC he had a big red beard back then.
This is stunning work. The high register, unlike a contrabassoon, seems to be actually usable.
I have to wonder if the bassoon will eventually have such a replacement.
Jeffrey Ragsdale the contraforte's creator bendidkit epplesheim has created many new versions of instruments like the tubax so he probably will make a bassoon like that
This is the bassoon equivalent. I think it was developed before the contraforte
I think not, the higher register has very questionable intonation
This infact exists but unfortunately had not made it to market search up bassoforte
This is soooo cool. I play the tuba, and I am really intrigued by how modern technology has enabled contrabass instruments to really come into their own over time.
The lower registers are, indeed, MUCH warmer than the contra, particularly when playing piano/pianissimo! It would be a joy to feel the depth with that kind of warmth!
In a more recent video I heard this thing "sounds like a tuba", I'm not even a bassoonist, and I can tell you, this sounds more like a member of the Bassoon family than a Tuba
I’ve watched this particular video years ago, but I JUST came across the video you’re speaking off I completely agree with you. That was actually the first thing that came to mind when he said that. I don’t hear tuba AT ALL. This honestly sounds like a not-shitty contrabassoon. But it still DEFINITELY sounds like a bassoon.
So, how exactly would you clean this?
JAJAJAJAJAJ nice question xD
no, you- you just don't
You pull a fur coat through it
with a fire hose and a live grizzly bear
Just like a
*DUBBLE FRIKIN REEDED TUBAX*
Very convincing. Brilliant engineering and a beautiful result. It was about time.
cheers from an instrument maker in Vienna, Scott
At times i hear a bass trombone. The low end does sounds a lot softer and cleaner though than contra bassoon. Really like the sound
Je to božský nástroj...
7:39 Wow that sounds awesome, I wasn't expecting it to sound so different played loudly. Completely changed the sound! Could be used in so many other applications!
at 07:16, the two low notes he is gonig back and forth from sound completely different from another. They aren´t that far apart from eachother but have a totally different quality to eachother.
A duet of this and the contrabassoon would be absolutely beautiful and very texturally interesting
The contraforte seems to be somewhat intermediate (construction and sound) between Contrabassoon and Contrabass-clarinet.
I've read that many French composers, e.g. Saint-Saëns, preferred the contrabass sarrusophone to the French contrabassoon. The sarrusophone is more powerful and agile, better in tune; but it has a weak high treble. And, it's timbre is somewhat saxophone-like. The Contraforte appears to combine the best qualities of the contrabassoon and sarrusophone into one instrument, then improve on both: a blending, true-bassoon timbre, excellent dynamic range and control, strong and extended upper treble range. An important achievement!
This is the nicest sounding instrument in that lowest octave of hearing that I have ever heard..... delicioso!!!
This is brilliant. Thank you for sharing.
I have always been fond of double-reed instruments, esp. the bassoon & contrabassoon, which is, by far, the oddest instrument of the orchestra. Indeed, this particular CB does look like a military weapon. I definitely sounds much more comfortable in the middle & lower register & is not designed for acrobatics. It's sound is perfect for horror movies, as its timbre has a maniacal quality about it. LVB used it in his 5th sym. & Prokofiev chose the CB to play Peter's grandfather. Remarkable!
i would love to have one of these
So cool! What a wonderful instrument and design. Thank you so much to everyone involved in the creation of this video
Fantastic! Thank you for introducing this improved version of both common bassoons.
For those who judge him for not saying bocal: Bocal implies that it can be removed as a separate entity, whereas that doesn't seem to be the case here. This pipe looks more similar to a brass leadpipe that connects to a mouthpiece (though bassoonists use a reed). I've noticed this terminology used similarly in historical instruments.
Magnificent beast!
Such a precious instrument...
If I were 50 grand richer...
Lol
Ani 1000x bohadší by nepomohlo, ale je to skvělý nástroj, sám na něj hraji, ale pomalejší level...
I would buy an acoustic piano
I appreciate this very well-demonstrated and played video. I have been following your articles as well. I play contra in my local orchestra and wish to purchase a fox contra at some point, and if I can, the Arlan Fast version. Your demo and articles have me reconsidering. Thank you!
Richard Chandler
A great addition to the orchestra. There would be not too many regrets for the existing contrabassoon.
Now have them build a modern Sarrusophone for marching band :)
+Jack Brooks oh god that must be a pain to march
+Francisco M. They marched Contrabass sax in the late 1800s. That instrument weighs 45lbs so betcha they had TONS of fun marching that.
@@doublereedsrule9944 I have (at my school) a Contralto Clarinet that can be marched, how do I know? It has a place for a lyre and has 2 neck strap loops (IDK proper name)
@@doublereedsrule9944 I marched bass saxophone in Marching during 1954 to 1956. Boy that was a journey, and the contrabass saxophone weighs around 55 pounds.
Bass sax weighs 17 or 18lbs so contra would be over double that.
The first few seconds are really confusing. Seems like he's saying the contrabassoon is more expressive and will replace the contraforte. Huh?
I believe "Wolf contrabassoon" and "contraforte" are synonymous. He just confused the 2 words for a moment there, and actually said the opposite of what he meant.
Andrew Marshall exactly. I couldn't understand a thing he was trying to say which made this all the more confusing.
but does it djent???
Gorgeous!
Totally beautiful!!!
I play contrabassoon already but this,,, this is beautiful
"It's three dimensional." As opposed to the old fashioned two dimensional Contrabassoon it's replacing Lol
Absolutely fascinating.
Worlds most difficult decision. Buy a car, or a contraforte?
Decisions decisions
I WOULD BUY ME A CONTRAFORTE AND FLY IT LIKE A BROOM.
absolutely a contraforte. my city has good public transport, who needs a car anyway.
@@somebody9033 same
@@existentialopal721 HAHA no, the world does not simply consist of Canada and the American wastelands, there are also civilised countries such as Europe.
Just kidding, that was sarcasm, I'm from the UK.
Wow, just heard about the Contraforte. Amazing!
beautiful sound. nice demo!
Guntram Wolf also makes baroque bassoons (I have one) and a full set of dulcians (forerunners of the bassoon), a full range of historical oboes and historical clarinets.
It has that nice character of the double bass. The contrabasson is much more aggressive than this instrument.
sometimes aggressive is what you want.
This definitely sounds much better than most contrabassoons I have heard. It actually sounds musical.
He keeps saying "is going to replace the contraforte" is his different from the contraforte?
Super cool! I love all bassoons, and it's great to have another one! Thanks for making this video. btw, if you're going to use the Italian term for 'contrabassoon', make sure you have the correct term; 'contrafagotti' is plural.
In the beginning he plays a part of the anthem of the Republic Karelia in Russia
good to kno
Thanks for the presentation! I believe I heard a Contraforte in live concert with an orchestra from Hamburg. It was astonishingly loud, in a way completely impossible the standard German contrabassoon. They performed Messiaen's _Des Canyons aux Étoiles_, and I wonder what Messiaen would have thought. I imagine it would have pleased him immensely, as most French composers preferred the Sarrusophone to the Contrabassoon, and the Contraforte apparently matches the power of the latter. But the Sarrusophone is faulted for having a weak upper range -- which, as you demonstrate, is a problem completely solved in the Contraforte. Question: is that larger reed simply the same as that for the Sarrusophone?
Thank you for this video. i was not aware of this instrument!
Beautiful.
Unquestionably fascinating!
Just saw a concert in Intermezzo with the Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse. I see they are using the contraforte instead of contrabassoon. Very interesting, a lady plays it.
Lewis, thanks for the demo. I have been wanting to see and hear one of these beautifully designed instruments for several years and I am so glad you have given this demo. I hope to play one at the IDRS2016 this June. BTW will you be at IDRS2016 in June? I hope so.I would love to meet you in person and shake your hand. I will be playing Contra in Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra in Strauss' Death and Configuration.Playing on a Fox. Looking forward to the rehearsal and concert in March. Keep the demos coming I so much enjoyed this one.
+Tom Baise Yes... Lewis Lipnick will be in the IDRS 2016. He will play in the open concert.
BEAUTIFUL
Now we need an equivalent for the bassoon, and one for the missing register in between.
what is the name of the music played in the beggining of the video?
"When I first got this, the trumpet players in my orchestra said it looked like a; Rocket Launcher."
Nice instrument design. Love the brake cable idea.
Wow! What an awesome instrument!
Fantastic!!!!
holy shet that's rite of spring C
This needs to become the new standard!
This is a beautiful instrument.
It sounds nicer than I thought it would
amazing!
That low A C contraforte, the low A C contrabassoon, the low G E flat contrabass sarrusophone and the low G B flat contrabass sarrusophone make a good double reed quartet.
Ravel and R Strauss would have loved it. Both wrote contra obbligatos for it - amongst others.
amazing instrument - lots of fun in airports we think!
Yeah, and cleverly explained!..Thanks for posting!
A onde eu vô pra comprar isso ?
Putt a link as to the instrument please
It's also called a saxophone. As a bassoonist, I'm not even bothered :P
I play bassoon and I have always whated to play that.
It sounds like a contrabass sax mixed with a bassoon.
Very beautiful. It almost sounds like a saxophone at times.
I like its sound far better than the conventional contrabassoon. Plus, the sound on the contra goes "backwards" whereas the 'forte projects the sound straight outward!!! This is one of the few times that change is actually a good thing (-:
What is the excerpt at the beginning?
Superb
It actually has more range than the standard german bassoon. That's crazy
Kéž by byly možnosti srovnatelné s Vámi. Nástroj je to opravdu nádherný, obzvláště ve Vašem provedení. V tomto podání má opravdu neomezené možnosti a pobavení spoluhráčů nehrozí. Sám na podobný hraju v Janáčkově filharmonii Ostrava CZ., ale podstatně jednodušší model zn. Puchner...
impresionante.!!!
How do you put it together... and also how big is the case 😂
Where can I get one?
Can you play the brown note?
Contrabassoon sounds like a bassoon, this sounds like something between a bassoon and a contrabass saxophone
Trust me, contrabassoon is another beast entirely from bassoon. The amount of adjustment required for notes to resonate more clearly, some fingerings are different, AND you must absolutely use the various octave keys to play anything above open F; furthermore, I can guarantee being a professional in an orchestra he is aware it is a bocal...
What a beautiful instrument. I am a sax player, but this really is awesome!
So what's its material?
This contrabassoon has nice sound!
Good sound but if you guys replace the contra bass there WILL be problems understand? Thanks;)
Fingerings? Same as bassoon plus an extra flageolet key or two? Or different?
Its tone sounds like a mixture of the Contrabassoon, Tuba and Bass Saxophone. It has a darker tone than the Contrabassoon, but also sounds a bit brassy and zingy to me. Not very inclined to this instrument, although it is built with a better acoustics which means that it has a fewer problematic notes. I love the nature of inconsistency and instability that the original Contrabassoon has. For these reasons, I'll probably order an another game changer in the market, the Fox Fast Contra over the Contraforte. By the way, does anybody know why he sold his horn?
Richard Bobo would love this instrument. There should be an instrument one octave lower than the contraforte. There should also be another instrument one octave higher than the contraforte to play higher notes.
octave lower obviously doesn't exist, but there is something called a bassoforte which is an "improved bassoon" by the same guys.
I'd like to listen to it live... Cause I know it sounds so differently here and live :C
very good
recommend me a cd full of contrabassoon music ?
What song was he playing in the beginning?
Looks like the left-hand keys correspond to the bassoon/contrabassoon, but, are the fingerings the same or similar?
What is the concerto he mentioned? I love that minor thirds motif and want to hear the whole thing
Kalevi Aho
I think its beautiful