Posted by Lee A. Stofer, Jr. on January 20, 1999 at 07:43:53:
In Reply to: cimbassos posted by Nicole on January 19, 1999 at 10:45:04:
Nicole,
The cimbasso is a curious instrument- typically a 5-valve contrabass trombone in F, but best played by a tuba player. The bell section is ordinary in shape, but the valve section, after the mouthpiece, makes about an 80-degree turn downward, and has a foot- or floor peg(adjustable) on the bottom. If you like playing F tuba, you'd probably love the cimbasso, for the bottom register seems to respond much easier on this instrument, particularly around
Db and C.
The first time I heard one was in Brussels in 1986- the Belgian State Opera was performing Verdi's 'Macbeth', and the low brass section of the orchestra consisted of 3 trombones and a cimbasso. The blend and balance was phenomenal.
Meinl Weston and Thein both make fine cimbassi in F. Rudolf Meinl makes the traditional F cimbasso, and has recently developed a CC cimbasso, which is also a marvelous machine.
The only downside? You'd have to perform an astronomical number of Verdi and Puccini operas to pay for one-their cost is comparable to a fine tuba.
Regards,
Lee Stofer