As a composer, I LOVE the cimbasso for big, loud passages. Tuba is great, but very dark even when playing louder dynamics. Cimbasso just has that snap like trombones and trumpets, especially on short notes!
@@Turt3752 Pretty much, although sometimes on scores for big action movies you'll see both contra bone AND a couple cimbassi which is a bit overkill imo
@@ferretyluv yes they exist, they’re just generally ridiculous in my opinion as a low brass player. For all cimbasso’s faults I genuinely think that in all contexts that don’t require a glissando cimbasso is just better. Personal opinion
I’m surprised you didn’t mention that the cimbasso has become very commonly used in film scoring. With how “uncommon” the instrument itself is, most people have definitely heard it before because of that.
I love the cimbasso and am very jealous of you for having one. I find it interesting that it seemingly has none of the negative characteristics/associations of the valve trombone (stuffiness, intonation etc) despite being essentially the same instrument type just down a 4th or 5th.
Interestingly, it popped up on Reddit a week or two ago asking , if the cimbasso is essentially the valve trombone equivalent of the contrabass trombone, where is the prevalence of a valve bass trombone (bass bore and large bell). Turns out Thein makes exactly that, complete with 4 valves. I'd be curious how that plays compared to a tenor valve trombone.
It sounds like a cross between a tuba and a trombone. My dad says Verdi’s Forza del Destino is nearly impossible to play for 3rd trombone. I told him about the Cimbasso and now he realizes it’s because the part was written for it and not trombone.
When you make the part 2 video, would you give a full tour of the instrument? Like, what it looks like in the middle, at the bottom, etc. I'd be really interested in that
I would like to see how and if it breaks down. It would make sense for the upper section to be removable in a similar way to how a trombone's bell section comes off of the slide. However I can't seem to see such a screw coupling in the video where it would make sense to have one. If it doesn't come apart I can see how the case would need to be ridiculously large to protect such an awkwardly large and weird-shape if it were all one piece.
@@svbarryduckworth628it does come apart, you can see the screw holding the bell section to the body at about 0:46 , to the left of the first vertical brace for the bell.
A surprising amount of modern cinema features cimbassi in its soundtracks! They are used to fantastic affect on suspenseful or “rougher” sounding passages demanding both presence and “bite” from the bass.
I was playing BBb contrabass trombone alongside a tuba in a concert band and the color that we complemented each other with, the timbre, it was absolutely gorgeous and it provided such a wonderful foundation for the band. Everybody in the band loved it. I'm sure the Cimbasso would provide a similar timbre.
after reflecting I would like to play one of these. I played trumpet and baritone, seems around a midpoint of ranges to what Im used to. Neat how you described that the tuba's give more of a breathy foundational tone to the music but although this could not do that, it gave the opposite, more like a tromboneish or something type of ring. I hadnt herd one quite like it.
Thank you for yet another interesting and informative video, Trent! Apparently, the name Cimbasso is a corruption of the abbreviation for the early keyed instrument you describe, the English Bass Horn (that looks like a premature Ophicleide), in Italian known as Corno Inglese di Basso, which was often abbreviated (handwritten at the beginning of the score to denote the instrument) as C.In.Basso and thus became Cimbasso.
I've waited for this video forever. Such an unusual instrument, yet more mainstream than some of the oddballs you've featured, i was always surprised you hadn't featured it yet. Thanks for sharing!
I never expected to encounter a sound completely novel to me in a a few bars of “Frosty the Snowman”, but then I clicked on this video. That cimbasso is incredible. It has the clean articulation of a trumpet, the tone and the punch of a trombone, and the pitch of a tuba. Truly a treat for the ears.
Remembering that awful time he dropped the contra bass trombone, I'm just about sweating with nervousness as I see Trent switch between hands holding the instrument and the had he is gesturing with.
I believe the bottom rests on the floor, so it would be harder to drop. Still, it's probably an expensive instrument, so care in handling it is important.
About 10 years ago, Orchestra Hall in Chicago hosted all the low brass players from the major groups in the United States. When Ricardo Mutti say "this was Arnold Jacob's Chimbasso", the entire audience gave a standing ovation.
I kinda like cimbassos. If I had the money, I'd love to make a contrabass superbone. 4+ valves like a cimbasso (preferably compensating), but also a slide like a contrabass trombone. That would be awesome. I'd prefer silver/nickel plated with gold highlights, maybe
I have a hard time managing my tenor trombone, so the idea of a trombone that sits on the floor appeals to me. I'd rather have a slide, though. It's not visible in this video, but there is a spike at the bottom for placing on the floor, or your neighbor's foot, if desired. The last time I saw a Verdi opera, there were a couple of cimbassi that I could see from my seat and I enjoyed watching them. However, unfortunately it was not sung in the original New Zealandish.
Random thing to say, but does anybody know where to find a good priced vanhanni bass trombone mouthpiece? I can't really find one, and i really need it for jazz band. Also, great video Trent
Hey Trent! I followed you on X and I have a big question to ask you and I would love to ask you either over email or X or FB or something. Could we do that? I am an aspiring euphonium player and I need your help with something
You have inspired me to have a wall in my basement dedicated to various brass instruments. I bet it's wonderful to be surrounded by so many instruments
Pretty much. Verdi literally calls the Cimbasso part "Trombone Contrabbasso" The Cimbasso plays a lot better though, the contrabbass trombone is a bit ridiculous
Thank you for providing such great content! As a bass trombonist, I’ve wondered how it compares to the bass trombone. I wonder how it directly compares to that Orsi Contrabass Valve Trombone you reviewed.
Nice to see you on the screen again Trent. I never cease to be amazed at the creations of brass tubing combinations that have appeared in the planet. I imagine nobody makes Cimbassos any longer, but I may be wrong. I’d love to see the case.😋
When I was at eastman I got to play don harry's cimbasso in an italian opera overture. He had frankensteined the thing himself out of a marching baritone bell and a cut-down conn tuba valve section. It was so much fun absolutely honking on it lol
Back then, the low trombone in F, Eb, or G was the standard bass, and Verdi wanted bottom foundation for that. Valve trombones were popular for a while, and the F attachment wasn't standard yet. Idk what key the ones Verdi had were in, but probably still had the larger bell. They're used now largely by the tubist, rather than hiring another trombone player for a gig.
It's always a treat to see a video from you in my feed. Hope you're doing well!
As a composer, I LOVE the cimbasso for big, loud passages. Tuba is great, but very dark even when playing louder dynamics. Cimbasso just has that snap like trombones and trumpets, especially on short notes!
Cimbasso is literally just if contrabass trombone was actually a good idea lmao
@@Turt3752 Pretty much, although sometimes on scores for big action movies you'll see both contra bone AND a couple cimbassi which is a bit overkill imo
@@Turt3752Contrabass trombones exist already, don’t they?
@@TiagoNugentComposer can’t have too much overkill when Tom Cruise is on screen
@@ferretyluv yes they exist, they’re just generally ridiculous in my opinion as a low brass player. For all cimbasso’s faults I genuinely think that in all contexts that don’t require a glissando cimbasso is just better. Personal opinion
I’m surprised you didn’t mention that the cimbasso has become very commonly used in film scoring. With how “uncommon” the instrument itself is, most people have definitely heard it before because of that.
New Zealand composer James Verdi 😂. Oh how I love these videos ...
I love the cimbasso and am very jealous of you for having one. I find it interesting that it seemingly has none of the negative characteristics/associations of the valve trombone (stuffiness, intonation etc) despite being essentially the same instrument type just down a 4th or 5th.
Interestingly, it popped up on Reddit a week or two ago asking , if the cimbasso is essentially the valve trombone equivalent of the contrabass trombone, where is the prevalence of a valve bass trombone (bass bore and large bell). Turns out Thein makes exactly that, complete with 4 valves. I'd be curious how that plays compared to a tenor valve trombone.
I'm a bass trombone player, and one of these is definitely on my instrument bucket list. I think they're fantastic.
I got a cimbasso a few weeks ago and love playing it.
Great! Splendid presentation ❤
It sounds like a cross between a tuba and a trombone.
My dad says Verdi’s Forza del Destino is nearly impossible to play for 3rd trombone. I told him about the Cimbasso and now he realizes it’s because the part was written for it and not trombone.
Maybe it would play better on a superbone?
When you make the part 2 video, would you give a full tour of the instrument? Like, what it looks like in the middle, at the bottom, etc. I'd be really interested in that
I would like to see how and if it breaks down. It would make sense for the upper section to be removable in a similar way to how a trombone's bell section comes off of the slide. However I can't seem to see such a screw coupling in the video where it would make sense to have one.
If it doesn't come apart I can see how the case would need to be ridiculously large to protect such an awkwardly large and weird-shape if it were all one piece.
@@svbarryduckworth628it does come apart, you can see the screw holding the bell section to the body at about 0:46 , to the left of the first vertical brace for the bell.
Thanks. It's hard to see on a phone screen.
@@svbarryduckworth6280:47
A surprising amount of modern cinema features cimbassi in its soundtracks! They are used to fantastic affect on suspenseful or “rougher” sounding passages demanding both presence and “bite” from the bass.
Love it! Thank you for setting the record straight on Verdi's origin too.
That’s Joe Green to you!
Just waiting for someone to update Wikipedia using me as a source.
@@TrentHamilton I’ll get on to that now…
That’s a really cool instrument I’m a brass player and love the sound that it mkaes
Studying 19th century opera (particularly the score to Rigoletto), and Verdi uses Cimbasso a lot. Thank you so much for this video!
I played baritone for a while in band and this cimbasso would have been fun to try
“And that’s the different between an Eb tuba and an Eb cimasOOoOoOOOO-“
That instrument is awesome!
I was playing BBb contrabass trombone alongside a tuba in a concert band and the color that we complemented each other with, the timbre, it was absolutely gorgeous and it provided such a wonderful foundation for the band. Everybody in the band loved it. I'm sure the Cimbasso would provide a similar timbre.
truly makes my day brighter when I see you've uploaded. I will never take your channel or content for granted again
after reflecting I would like to play one of these. I played trumpet and baritone, seems around a midpoint of ranges to what Im used to. Neat how you described that the tuba's give more of a breathy foundational tone to the music but although this could not do that, it gave the opposite, more like a tromboneish or something type of ring. I hadnt herd one quite like it.
Thank you for yet another interesting and informative video, Trent! Apparently, the name Cimbasso is a corruption of the abbreviation for the early keyed instrument you describe, the English Bass Horn (that looks like a premature Ophicleide), in Italian known as Corno Inglese di Basso, which was often abbreviated (handwritten at the beginning of the score to denote the instrument) as C.In.Basso and thus became Cimbasso.
I've been wanting a Trent Hamilton video on the cimbasso for so long
Been waiting years for this video!
Another great video from one of the best channels on youtube. Great instrument and interesting history. Thank you Trent, looking forward for part 2.
I've waited for this video forever. Such an unusual instrument, yet more mainstream than some of the oddballs you've featured, i was always surprised you hadn't featured it yet. Thanks for sharing!
😂😂😂straordinario il musicista neozolandese James Verdi😂😂😂 il grande GIUSEPPE VERDI che pretendeva il cimbasso e non il bass tuba
Please show the case in part 2.
Will you be doing a comparison between this and a standard compensating tuba in the future?
Don’t break it like your contra I believe ☠️
As a tuba player I take personal offence at the instrumentism in this video 😂
Congratulations! 🤗 Mattis Cederberg from WDR BIG BAND is cool modern cimbasso plaer, I really like him! ❤
I had no idea that is how cimbasso is pronounced... I guess it makes sense though
lets hope we don't to wait years for a part 2!
French horn flashbacks 😂
I never expected to encounter a sound completely novel to me in a a few bars of “Frosty the Snowman”, but then I clicked on this video. That cimbasso is incredible. It has the clean articulation of a trumpet, the tone and the punch of a trombone, and the pitch of a tuba. Truly a treat for the ears.
Remembering that awful time he dropped the contra bass trombone, I'm just about sweating with nervousness as I see Trent switch between hands holding the instrument and the had he is gesturing with.
I believe the bottom rests on the floor, so it would be harder to drop. Still, it's probably an expensive instrument, so care in handling it is important.
You came back !* 🎉
Just had a quick google - wow, these things are expensive!
The perfect tuba substitute for a ska band lol
About 10 years ago, Orchestra Hall in Chicago hosted all the low brass players from the major groups in the United States. When Ricardo Mutti say "this was Arnold Jacob's Chimbasso", the entire audience gave a standing ovation.
Nice video. It looks like you have lost some weight. Congrats
Keep doing what you do.
Saw one for the first time on the Vienna Philharmonic summer concert 2024. Cool!
The cimbasso: a cool mix between a trombone and a tuba
Baritone: lame mix between a trombone and a tuba
Heeey! Welcome back! Hope you're doing allright!
I kinda like cimbassos. If I had the money, I'd love to make a contrabass superbone. 4+ valves like a cimbasso (preferably compensating), but also a slide like a contrabass trombone. That would be awesome. I'd prefer silver/nickel plated with gold highlights, maybe
I have a hard time managing my tenor trombone, so the idea of a trombone that sits on the floor appeals to me. I'd rather have a slide, though. It's not visible in this video, but there is a spike at the bottom for placing on the floor, or your neighbor's foot, if desired.
The last time I saw a Verdi opera, there were a couple of cimbassi that I could see from my seat and I enjoyed watching them. However, unfortunately it was not sung in the original New Zealandish.
I love cimbasso. I have been wishing you would return. Are you back?
Just a general recommendation to check out Mattis Cedeburg some excellent cimbasso playing!
I greatly miss Trent Hamilton and wish him well. Moreover, I yearn for his return to UA-cam.
Tone sounding great Trent! I love the cimbasso, such a bold sound. I'd love to have one someday
Random thing to say, but does anybody know where to find a good priced vanhanni bass trombone mouthpiece? I can't really find one, and i really need it for jazz band. Also, great video Trent
Good to see you back!
As a euphonium player I want one. great video 2x👍
Hey Trent! I followed you on X and I have a big question to ask you and I would love to ask you either over email or X or FB or something. Could we do that? I am an aspiring euphonium player and I need your help with something
Wow! 🤩 What a contraption 😍 love it 😊
Love me a cimbasso, had the use of one, a few years back. Wish I had one today. 😢
I think the because of the appearance the name "catastrophone" could be applied.
You have inspired me to have a wall in my basement dedicated to various brass instruments. I bet it's wonderful to be surrounded by so many instruments
Wow it probably cost as much to ship as it would cost for a person to fly from Alabama or wherever it was, to your place in NZ.
So is this really just a contrabass valve trombone?
Yes. that's my 'take' on it as well. A Contrabass (Valved) Trombone in Eb, made into a very awkward shape.
Pretty much. Verdi literally calls the Cimbasso part "Trombone Contrabbasso"
The Cimbasso plays a lot better though, the contrabbass trombone is a bit ridiculous
One of my favorite instruments, ive always wanted one of these😔
It looks like a bass valve trombone, but it probably was so unweidly to play, they bent the "slide" section down and put it on a pin hahaha
How different is this vs a contrabass trombone as far as sound goes? I’ve heard both but not together.
do you know what the additional up to 3 valves (to a total of 7) do on other cimbassi?
Love your videos, really glad to see you back on YT!
Can you put a bassoon reed on it and make a cimbassoon?
Are you back? When was this posted?
The Cimbasso is a big ol Contrabass Valve Trombone
Tuba is the body. Bass trombone/cimbasso are the teeth.
James Verdi. Joe’s little brother!!! 😂
Anything but a tuba: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cimbasso
do a mouthpiece swap with a trumpet and trombone
Very glad to see a new video from you Trent! Great quality as usual
Cimbasso vs. Tuba vs. Contrabass Trombone.
As a (BBb) tuba player, the story made me very sad
Yey! Thank you for the video!
can you do more videos with the cimbasso
You should do a video on a piccolo french horn
HOW DO U GET ENOUGH OIL FOR ALL THOSE INSTRUMENTS
What brand did you get?
What brands is this cimbasso?
can you make a gaming channel please
James Verdi 😹
Great to see you again!
The cimbasso!!
al bro does is yap
OMG A NEW VIDEO!!
YOU GOT ONE!!!
Don't drop it 😂😐
Thank you for providing such great content! As a bass trombonist, I’ve wondered how it compares to the bass trombone. I wonder how it directly compares to that Orsi Contrabass Valve Trombone you reviewed.
That's a very interesting looking instrument.
It's similar to a trombone, but also vertical like a tenor horn
That instrument looks amazing, very intimidating. You keep fueling my addicting to brass instruments.
So happy you are back! Greetings from Florida.
I could not be happier about your recent content, Trent. Really awesome stuff!!
Interesting, thank you. I'd never heard of this instrument before.
I'd love to hear you play a range of sounds on the instrument, highlighting the range of sounds...
Nice to see you on the screen again Trent. I never cease to be amazed at the creations of brass tubing combinations that have appeared in the planet. I imagine nobody makes Cimbassos any longer, but I may be wrong. I’d love to see the case.😋
When I was at eastman I got to play don harry's cimbasso in an italian opera overture. He had frankensteined the thing himself out of a marching baritone bell and a cut-down conn tuba valve section. It was so much fun absolutely honking on it lol
Why wouldn't you just use an F contrabass trombone to do the job of the Cimbasso? I don't see the point of it.
Back then, the low trombone in F, Eb, or G was the standard bass, and Verdi wanted bottom foundation for that. Valve trombones were popular for a while, and the F attachment wasn't standard yet. Idk what key the ones Verdi had were in, but probably still had the larger bell. They're used now largely by the tubist, rather than hiring another trombone player for a gig.
I would say the opposite honestly, Contrabass Trombone is pretty ridiculous to play, Cimbasso works better
Only Trent could manage to compare the low brass section to a sausage!!! 😂
Fascinating, Trent. Never heard of this beastie, and now O want one. Dangit
I love the Jooly comforting sound of it, thank you for the video!
always great to see an upload Trent, always a highlight when theres a new video from you