Michael's Saxophone Page

 Contrabass Info

 

Of all the saxophones still being manufactured today, the contrabass saxophone is by far the biggest and rarest of them all. Until a few years ago, production of contrabass saxophones had long since ceased. But, a few years ago, Orsi of Italy began production of these giant horns again (and even more recently, Benedikt Eppelsheim has begun making a contrabass saxophone with a low-A key - see links page!). Their contrabass is a completely modern design and has all the modern key work and other technology you'd expect of a modern saxophone. As of Summer 2003, Orsi has built 24 contrabass saxophones and mine is their most recent and improved model.

So, you may be asking, why a contrabass saxophone? The contrabass saxophone's lowest note (concert pitch) is one and one-half octaves below bass clef . Like a tuba, the saxophone's bass timbre is powerful and deep. Unlike a contrabass clarinet, contrabassoon, or string bass, the contrabass saxophone also has the ability to play loud. Its reedy saxophone sound gives it a distinctive voice that can be heard and felt. It works really well in saxophone ensembles and bands as Jay Easton, Nuclear Whales and others have proven.

Like the alto and baritone saxophones, the contrabass saxophone is tuned to Eb. As a benefit of all low Eb instruments (including baritone sax), it is easy to use the contrabass saxophone to play music written for tuba, string bass, bass trombone, bassoon, and any other bass clef music written for instruments tuned in C. How? By reading the notes as though they are on the treble clef and adding 3 sharps to the key signature, the notes become properly transposed.

What's it like to play the contrabass saxophone? Well, for starter's, it's big. No, make that gargantuan! The Orsi contrabass is a bit over 6-feet, 4-inches tall from bottom to top (the instrument case is even larger). It requires a pickup truck with an 8-foot bed just to transport it. And, it's a heavyweight - tipping the scales at a very muscular and brawny 50 pounds. Typically, the saxophone is mounted on a stand and you play it standing up or sitting down on a bar stool. The left hand is typically above your shoulder and your right hand is down below your waist (it helps to have long arms and big hands). The saxophone can also be played using a sling strap for mobility instead of being mounted on a stationary stand - assuming you're tall enough and big enough to handle the big saxophone.

The contrabass saxophone is also a blast to play! There is no other sensation that compares with playing a low Bb on this saxophone because it will rattle your teeth fillings (and make your nose itch). But, it's very satisfying. It takes a lot of air, but not so much that you can't play a low Bb for 4 beats before you reach for the oxygen tank.

The horn's intonation is very good - from Bb to high F. Low E tends to play a bit sharp but is easily compensated for with embouchure. Also, like the bari and bass saxophones, the upper octaves tend to play a bit sharp compared to the low octave, but again, this is easily compensated with embouchure. The large mouthpiece is designed for bass saxophone reeds and depending on the music I play, I choose either a Van Doren bass sax reed or a Legere Bb (20mm) contrabass clarinet reed.

So, if you're a low-A baritone saxophone player and enjoy hitting that low A note, just think about going almost an octave lower and you'll have an idea of what it's like to play a contrabass saxophone. Check out my solo performances page to hear mp3 audio recordings with the contrabass saxophone.

Click here for my contrabass saxophone story.