Introducing the Baroque Contrabassoon

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  • Опубліковано 6 вер 2024
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    "Sir Simon Rattle called it the Loch Ness monster".
    David Chatterton introduces the Baroque contrabassoon, specifically an instrument made in 1739 and heard in original performances of Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks.
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 364

  • @Charlie-vf8hw
    @Charlie-vf8hw 4 роки тому +947

    10pm: I'm going to get to sleep early tonight
    3am: Introducing the Baroque Contrabassoon

  • @bearbrotha
    @bearbrotha 4 роки тому +417

    I love how it's so huge you can't get it all in focus.

  • @praveenb9048
    @praveenb9048 4 роки тому +200

    Proudly Presenting...
    *The Bassooka*

    • @bluboi155
      @bluboi155 3 роки тому +3

      People call my normal bassoon a basooka in class

    • @7thWardCreole
      @7thWardCreole 3 роки тому +1

      I laughed waaaay too hard at bassooka 🤣

  • @GrangerGangster
    @GrangerGangster 4 роки тому +227

    I have to hand it to you guys. It’s not too often that I am in utter amazement, but when he said that this was THE contrabassoon that premiered Music for the Royal Fireworks, my jaw hit the floor. That is truly amazing that it’s survived all these centuries and is still being played!

    • @utecastronoova863
      @utecastronoova863 4 роки тому +27

      He misspoke...it was the Royal Fartworks. Centuries worth of bad gas. Its still in mint condition because no one wanted to use it.

    • @myboy_
      @myboy_ 4 роки тому +3

      @@utecastronoova863 you're a good man

    • @7thWardCreole
      @7thWardCreole 3 роки тому +3

      I shudder to think of the insurance payments on it!

    • @katrinablackwell5174
      @katrinablackwell5174 3 роки тому +1

      ROYAL FARTWORKS??? OMG lol lol lol

    • @mr.s1961
      @mr.s1961 Рік тому +1

      @John Connors then you'd REALLY be surprised how many centuries all artifacts the queen stole from Africa have lasted and still locked up in Buckingham palace as well as British Museums.

  • @priscillapenelopepicklenos6303
    @priscillapenelopepicklenos6303 Рік тому +32

    One of my ancestors, named Candido Passavanti, was actually the contrabassoonist who played in Beethoven’s orchestra. It never occurred to me to wonder before, but now I’m curious to know if his instrument has survived and is perhaps still being played.

    • @danielponder690
      @danielponder690 Місяць тому +2

      It may have been a Grenser ca 1800, not sure what's out there that survive, but many of us play Grenser copies and I know the owner of an original Grenser

  • @erickleefeld4883
    @erickleefeld4883 4 роки тому +118

    The concert foghorn.

  • @richardc8970
    @richardc8970 4 роки тому +56

    After their concert performances, the Baroque Contrabassoon was also very useful for jousting.

  • @proudsnowtiger
    @proudsnowtiger 4 роки тому +174

    "Say hello to my little friend"
    "You could bring down a 747 with that"
    "Of course it'll fit into the overhead locker"
    "Unparalleled effect, but a devil to get lit"
    but mostly
    "PAAAAARRRRRRPPPP!"
    A magnificent device. How on earth does one's life path lead to blowing into one of those for money?

    • @kingjbone1
      @kingjbone1 4 роки тому +1

      @Tweedlebean this!

    • @DieFlabbergast
      @DieFlabbergast 4 роки тому +4

      I think we can take it for granted that he usually plays an ordinary, Earthling-sized bassoon. This is for special occasions.

    • @proudsnowtiger
      @proudsnowtiger 4 роки тому +1

      @@DieFlabbergast Well, yes. There can't be that many pieces scored for such a monster! Incidentally, try Googling "Logical Bassoon" for further bassoonery tomfoolery. Radio 3 even had a "Towards A More Logical Bassoon" programme, once upon a time...

  • @palette_1563
    @palette_1563 4 роки тому +19

    Imagine being in a high school music class and having to take that thing home on the bus with you, lol

  • @kateshungi8945
    @kateshungi8945 4 роки тому +501

    Assert dominance

  • @whs1pmjazz
    @whs1pmjazz 4 роки тому +79

    He's right, it really is a pitchy instrument. Must have been extremely tough to play, considering the best of the best in terms of modern players is struggling to keep the higher notes in tune

    • @cfrandre8319
      @cfrandre8319 4 роки тому +13

      Patrick Reilly Not to mention, imagine its response/changes with humidity fluctuations in UK

    • @whs1pmjazz
      @whs1pmjazz 4 роки тому +12

      @@cfrandre8319 let's not even imagine that

    • @VaughanMcAlley
      @VaughanMcAlley 2 місяці тому

      There’s one baroque contrabassoon in Australia which gets shuttled back and forth between Sydney and Melbourne. The guy who usually plays it impresses me every single time with his intonation and agility. Maybe the difference is that this instrument was made more recently than Handel’s time…

  • @lsb2623
    @lsb2623 4 роки тому +47

    Sick bong, dude.

  • @thereaction18
    @thereaction18 4 роки тому +156

    What caliber round does that thing fire?

    • @MrRedeyedJedi
      @MrRedeyedJedi 4 роки тому +13

      88mm

    • @metalmicky
      @metalmicky 4 роки тому +5

      Or 1.5 kg s of tobacco !

    • @pete5668
      @pete5668 4 роки тому

      The finest caliber of round, or canon, or any other musical form you like :)

    • @_DixonCider
      @_DixonCider 4 роки тому +1

      @@MrRedeyedJedi . Well, it is German, so that makes sense.

    • @nalin31081
      @nalin31081 4 роки тому +1

      @@MrRedeyedJedi smooth bore or rifled?

  • @whiteeyedsh4rk697
    @whiteeyedsh4rk697 4 роки тому +22

    0:00 when your cellphone is muted and you get a message

  • @KnightsWithoutATable
    @KnightsWithoutATable 4 роки тому +54

    The sound reminds me a bit of a bass saxophone, but less resonance and more sound of the reed. I am really surprised that it is in good enough condition to still be played.

    • @JiveDadson
      @JiveDadson 4 роки тому +4

      It's a damn shame that bass saxes are not used in orchestras. Check out this gorgeous piece played on a (gasp) contrabass sax. ua-cam.com/video/dE7jToqFoqk/v-deo.html

    • @DieFlabbergast
      @DieFlabbergast 4 роки тому +9

      "More sound of the reed." Translation into standard English: "Sounds like an elephant farting in the fog."

    • @mal2ksc
      @mal2ksc 4 роки тому +2

      It sounds like a Tubax, only with shaky pitch.

    • @jimsy5530
      @jimsy5530 4 роки тому +3

      Reminds me of a fat man farting into a traffic cone.

    • @RatPfink66
      @RatPfink66 4 роки тому

      It has some of that same chuffing in the middle range that the bass sax has, as if there are intrinsic acoustic issues with certain notes.

  • @CannibalSodom
    @CannibalSodom 2 роки тому +8

    I was wondering what this instrument was after seeing it on the credits of The Seer by Swans. I was not disappointed. This instrument fits that album perfectly.

  • @TRICELLxGAMER
    @TRICELLxGAMER 4 роки тому +37

    How to play the RPG-7

  • @OnNightmareRadio
    @OnNightmareRadio 4 роки тому +37

    Is there a 15 hour version of this I can play for my neighbors?

    • @factenter6787
      @factenter6787 4 роки тому +7

      Just convert to mp3, cut the most obnoxious sounding part and loop it😂

  • @michaelchen8643
    @michaelchen8643 4 роки тому +27

    The residence and vibration sound like controlled flatulence 😆

  • @Caroline-pb8xx
    @Caroline-pb8xx 4 роки тому +6

    I think it’s really cool we still give life to these instruments.

  • @mfro4422
    @mfro4422 4 роки тому +18

    Bro, did he just got the brown note?

  • @tinkmarshino
    @tinkmarshino 4 роки тому +2

    FABULOUS! I had never heard of this instrument before.. it make such a melodious deep satiny sound.. very enjoyable and to thing that is almost 300 years old and has been playing the same music for all that time.. incredible thank you!

  • @funkdaddy3.0
    @funkdaddy3.0 4 роки тому +56

    Sounds like the tones from "Close Encounters of a Third Kind".

    • @TheRoswellCode
      @TheRoswellCode 4 роки тому +3

      ...........played by Lurch.

    • @sugardaddy4714
      @sugardaddy4714 3 роки тому

      And it case the aliens turn on us, we can use it to shoot their ships down...

  • @BillMarion
    @BillMarion 4 роки тому +26

    Do "Smoke on the Water next."

  • @weirdshibainu
    @weirdshibainu 4 роки тому +133

    That's a big bong

  • @steamynoodle2010
    @steamynoodle2010 4 роки тому +46

    Girls be lining up!

  • @ujean56
    @ujean56 4 роки тому +4

    Spectacular! Thanks for preserving this history and sharing it with all of us and not just the Lords and Ladies.

  • @OnNightmareRadio
    @OnNightmareRadio 4 роки тому +32

    Please play Moanin’ by Charles Mingus on this...

    • @AidanMmusic96
      @AidanMmusic96 4 роки тому +3

      Haha! I definitely want to see that alongside serpents, with a shawm solo!

    • @morganrobinson8042
      @morganrobinson8042 4 роки тому

      You would tear apart the building.

  • @harrytuttle8161
    @harrytuttle8161 4 роки тому +3

    Spooky , deep and dark with a touch of sinister .

  • @yugandali
    @yugandali 4 роки тому +12

    Here is a man who doesn't need an aqualung to stay underwater for twenty minutes.

  • @aznSeddie
    @aznSeddie 4 роки тому +17

    Baroques and their comedically giant instruments...

  • @JohnFoley1701
    @JohnFoley1701 4 роки тому +3

    I’d love to hear more about how they built such instruments. I have a 46” lathe in my shop, but I’ve never bored out anything deeper than about a foot or so. They must have had to make some interesting special tools for this.

    • @welshtoro3256
      @welshtoro3256 Рік тому

      Good point.

    • @mantistoboggan2676
      @mantistoboggan2676 Рік тому +1

      People often look back on the past as inferior or less advanced, but that just isnt the truth. Empires have existed and died that were more advanced than us today.

  • @chesterstevens8870
    @chesterstevens8870 4 роки тому +7

    How to make the "Brown Note" classy.

  • @iahelcathartesaura3887
    @iahelcathartesaura3887 4 роки тому +4

    We need more low register sounds like this in music. Or at least I definitely do. Love this. Excellent video.

  • @orgelspielerkmd
    @orgelspielerkmd 2 роки тому +2

    He’s like the Attenborough of the OAE, really. I got to play the Baroque bassoon one summer at Oberlin BPI (Eichentopf copy) but sadly no contra. Interestingly enough, the reed I used for it was made from a modern contra blank, if memory serves.

  • @gerronspencer8669
    @gerronspencer8669 4 роки тому +19

    Announcer: “And now, tones of baroque, bassoon.”
    Common folk: “It didn’t sound broke at all, quite nice actually.”

  • @richardnosiglia3736
    @richardnosiglia3736 4 роки тому +2

    Registers 7.9 on the Richter scale. Neighbors gotta love when you play "Smoke On The Water" on that bad boy - rockin' !

  • @cheesenoodles8316
    @cheesenoodles8316 4 роки тому +1

    Wow...speachless. Love to see you bring that to a backporch jam.

  • @pauljmeyer1
    @pauljmeyer1 4 роки тому +1

    Rich and sonorous in its deepness this instrument of its time and in playable condition is really special.

  • @normamcmanus1139
    @normamcmanus1139 4 роки тому +8

    Sounds like cowboys eating beans ‘round the campfire!

  • @JonatasMonte
    @JonatasMonte 4 роки тому +4

    Really useful for when you need to hold a flag, play and fight alongside your regiment.

  • @jockojohn3294
    @jockojohn3294 4 роки тому +2

    In Russia..........We play orchestra @ 6 to 8 PM.....fire mortars from 9 PM to midnite......very versatile instrument......

  • @Malcoladdin
    @Malcoladdin 4 роки тому +4

    What is also impressive is how for the foot joint, 2 very long holes would have had to be drilled side by side. Not easy!

  • @elitetrader5468
    @elitetrader5468 Місяць тому

    One of these in every home!

  • @mitcherny6965
    @mitcherny6965 4 роки тому +3

    Where has this instrument been all my life? Damn, my parents should have made me play one from the age of 5!

  • @peteradaniel
    @peteradaniel 3 місяці тому

    His brother was head of wind brass and percussion at my school.

  • @argonwheatbelly637
    @argonwheatbelly637 4 роки тому +2

    It's incredibly warm!

  • @doc34thfist
    @doc34thfist Рік тому +1

    I never knew the contrabassoon or this version. Ty for this.

  • @DieFlabbergast
    @DieFlabbergast 4 роки тому +5

    "the sounds are like nothing else" -- thank God!

    • @mr.anonymous5501
      @mr.anonymous5501 4 роки тому +2

      It's not supposed to be a solo instrument...

    • @mr.anonymous5501
      @mr.anonymous5501 4 роки тому +1

      @Esteban Outeiral Dias Go find out what the word, 'context' means, and then try and apply your new understanding to the initial comment, and my response.

  • @fancystacy
    @fancystacy Рік тому +4

    My husband plays this instrument every morning but I don't know where he hides it.

  • @Marcus538
    @Marcus538 4 роки тому

    That contrabasson must be the travel version.
    Went to Bates museum in Oxford, a must see , hundreds of old and weird wind instruments saxophones mainly never knew there wete so many types , fascinating .

  • @dlwatib
    @dlwatib 4 роки тому +8

    That strange feeling you get when you don't know whether to be impressed or to laugh out loud...

  • @GuitarUniverse2013
    @GuitarUniverse2013 6 місяців тому

    I guess this must be one way to guarantee yourself a gig and some kind of orchestra somewhere in the world. I hope the pay is better than most orchestral chairs, because you're gonna need at least two people carry this instrument around!

  • @Tropategan
    @Tropategan Рік тому

    Amazing deep rich tones. Thank you.

  • @fg87fgd
    @fg87fgd 4 роки тому +6

    The IBM 3270 of the bassoon family.

  • @RutherfordRyan1
    @RutherfordRyan1 4 роки тому +2

    Excellent info, nice French and you’re a ringer for Robert Fripp !

  • @Markworth
    @Markworth 4 роки тому +1

    I see a lot of joke comments, but on a more serious note, I totally get it. This is actually a pretty cool instrument. This beast was probably pushing the technology of the day to its brink, but here it is. It still exists, it still plays, and it sounds quite alright! It's quite apparent that, for better or for worse, it has a lot of "personality" but I understand how that can be an enjoyable part of playing an instrument. All of my least favorite horns are the ones that do all the hard work for me.

  • @paulwhite8714
    @paulwhite8714 4 місяці тому

    I copied the original in Dublin museum back around 1998 with Graham Lyndon Jones. One for me and the other for him, if I recall, David Chatterton bought mine to compliment the Tauber Classical era contra I made for him in 1986 housed at the Bate Collection in Oxford where I did my PHD. It is unclear if David is playing the Dublin original or my copy? He was and is master of these instruments over the last four decades.

  • @HazeMotes
    @HazeMotes 4 роки тому +20

    Trying to smuggle this on to a flight to avoid fees: "That's all me baby!"

  • @dees3179
    @dees3179 4 роки тому +1

    Hope your fingers are feeling better now.
    Thanks for the great video.

  • @eddienerphy5788
    @eddienerphy5788 4 роки тому +2

    I'm sure I've seen one of these being used to take down light military aircraft.

  • @zamppa63
    @zamppa63 4 роки тому +1

    It seems that there were already octave-, quint- and quartbass dulcians already in late 16:th century. in some places...

  • @pachamaridamofasat7803
    @pachamaridamofasat7803 4 роки тому +9

    I first thought it was a rocket launcher

  • @TheActionBastard
    @TheActionBastard 4 роки тому +3

    Person from the past: "I wonder if I can make a cannon into an instrument..."

  • @marknung751
    @marknung751 4 роки тому

    That's a kickass bong!

  • @firstlast4413
    @firstlast4413 4 роки тому +2

    I was trained as a bassoonist and studied with Roberto Sensale, contrabassoonist of NY Phil (who also played under Toscanini). So I know a bit about bassoons, if you'll pardon my presumption in saying so.
    This instrument is interesting...but it is not musical and there's no mystery in my mind as to why only one example of it has survived.
    The bassoon has a bad enough reputation as it is--the 'clown' of the orchestra, etc. We don't need to add to that by taking experimental instruments such as this one too seriously. A modern contrabassoon produces an exquisite, beautiful sound, right down to its bottom note. This early attempt to create a wind instrument playing an octave below everthing else should not be ignored...but it should stay in a museum, and not be heard in a concert hall. Sorry, but Simon Rattle was right. It really IS the Loch Ness Monster.

  • @iankincaid1216
    @iankincaid1216 4 роки тому +24

    You ever look at an instrument and wonder...why

    • @elonmust7470
      @elonmust7470 4 роки тому

      @InfiniteMushroom a pub? No I doubt that...

    • @ssinssg
      @ssinssg 4 роки тому +8

      @InfiniteMushroom It's not meant as a solo instrument. As part of an ensemble though, it would be quite effective, as the guy said, to underpin the sound of a bassoon.

    • @dees3179
      @dees3179 4 роки тому +2

      Surely the more important question would be, 'why not?'.

    • @happylittlemonk
      @happylittlemonk 4 роки тому +1

      Or why am I watching this?

  • @willshaman2128
    @willshaman2128 4 роки тому +1

    AWESOME BASS LINES!!And they say size doesn't matter…

  • @TaKuGr
    @TaKuGr 4 роки тому +1

    Fine instrument... Low sound is really great.👍

  • @stickom
    @stickom 4 роки тому +1

    i think i can count hertz,....crazy...love it...

  • @willemkossen
    @willemkossen 4 роки тому +1

    Ive never seen one of those. Richard Bobo needs to see this video!

  • @BenAtTheTube
    @BenAtTheTube Місяць тому

    I like it!

  • @RyanAlexanderBloom
    @RyanAlexanderBloom 4 роки тому +5

    Now with pole axe attachment in case your orchestra is assaulted by mounted assailants during a performance.

  • @jimsy5530
    @jimsy5530 4 роки тому

    I love the angles you shoot these instruments at.

  • @johntownsend7320
    @johntownsend7320 4 роки тому +1

    This instrument is the greatest lead for the brown note

  • @benoitjacquesbibas7660
    @benoitjacquesbibas7660 4 роки тому +1

    Quite practical to carry around😃

  • @wadsefrgthzjkl
    @wadsefrgthzjkl 3 роки тому +2

    After watching this even Bassists feel versatile.. :P

  • @edwincancelii2917
    @edwincancelii2917 4 роки тому +1

    I love that baroque contrabassoon made in England.

  • @michaelwalter3399
    @michaelwalter3399 3 роки тому +2

    During WWII, the German Wehrmacht repurposed many of these fine instruments as shoulder fired 88mm antitank weapons.

  • @fiarubold
    @fiarubold 4 роки тому +5

    Sounds like my hard drive

  • @RockStarOscarStern634
    @RockStarOscarStern634 4 роки тому +1

    @chestraEnlighten

    @UCrHICovzXa3ePnfRqUV5wkQ
    It sounds kinda like a tuba or a sousaphone.

  • @SlavikMusiker
    @SlavikMusiker 4 роки тому +1

    When I was a music student, we played for schoolchildren to introduce them to musical instruments. The violinist, clarinetist and flutist finished their performance. The kids were very noisy. But then a phagotist came on stage and the children suddenly fell silent. And one of the schoolchildren shouted "He 's going to shoot now. Lie down!"

  • @losilluminados3729
    @losilluminados3729 4 роки тому +1

    I feel like the Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do with this instrument was used in A je to.

  • @Twobarpsi
    @Twobarpsi 4 роки тому +3

    Ok I'll see your bassoon, and raise you a contrabassoon!

  • @michaelwalter3399
    @michaelwalter3399 2 роки тому

    Johann Sebastian Bach, to his contrabassoonist: "Fritz, the next time you fell one of those coming on, open a window."
    Fritz: "Actually, Herr Kapelmeister, that was the instrument, not me."

  • @omenoflaherty1294
    @omenoflaherty1294 4 роки тому +3

    First time I heard this piece was in the men’s room at Carnegie Hall. This guy nailed it.

  • @Tubajock2
    @Tubajock2 4 роки тому +3

    interesting to see where innovation went to today with the modern contra and how many instruments tried to replace it through the years. (still prefer the Serpent, im biased as a serpent player....)

    • @cfrandre8319
      @cfrandre8319 4 роки тому +1

      Tubajock2 I’m with you! Serpent vastly under-appreciated...

  • @leslielutz1874
    @leslielutz1874 4 роки тому +1

    It's the personal favorite of villains everywhere.

  • @marcovasconcelos918
    @marcovasconcelos918 4 роки тому +1

    Someone could say what is the lowest note of the instrument and its position in the pentagram?

  • @mklik4
    @mklik4 4 роки тому +7

    I thought he's calling the hippos

    • @gorillaau
      @gorillaau 4 роки тому +2

      I hope it's not a hippo mating call.

  • @jochanaan58
    @jochanaan58 2 роки тому

    Magnificent instrument!
    The stand for it looks modern. What would Handel's double bassoonist have used?

  • @McAVITYourWay.
    @McAVITYourWay. 4 роки тому

    The history Baroque contra began around 17 hundred! ?? What happened before 5pm ?

  • @ChadMc74
    @ChadMc74 4 роки тому +1

    We’re they all out of the big ones?

  • @Twobarpsi
    @Twobarpsi 4 роки тому +3

    Probably something you don't whip out, on the first date 😂😂😂!

  • @SomePeopleCallMeWulfman
    @SomePeopleCallMeWulfman 4 роки тому

    That would be fun in any marching band.

  • @Demiglitch
    @Demiglitch 4 роки тому

    yo sick Baroque Contrabassoon dude

  • @maximerobinson319
    @maximerobinson319 4 роки тому +2

    "the sounds are like nothing else"
    First time Mexican food eaters beg to differ.

  • @RIlianP
    @RIlianP 4 роки тому +1

    I am disappointing you didn't rob the museum to show us the dragon head.

  • @groaningmole4338
    @groaningmole4338 4 роки тому

    Wow -- he actually started out by *showing the topic of the video* instead of babbling for ten minutes! Thumbs up. More videos should be set up this way.

  • @andrewleblanc2449
    @andrewleblanc2449 Рік тому

    imagine lugging this around, and my middle school trombonists complain