At 15:27 12.6.2002 -0700, Grant Green wrote:
>At 09:59 PM 6/12/2002 +0000, you wrote:

>There is actually another instrument called the "reed contrabass" (or
>contrabasse a anche), which looks similar to the sarrusophone, but has a
>wider bore and completely different fingering. The pads are so large that
>a single pad is sufficient to vent the corresponding note. So, the keywork
>is arranged so that each key opens only one pad, and you need only open
>that single pad to play any note, e.g., press (only) the C key to play C,
>press (only) the Bb key to play Bb, etc. It is apparently still used in
>Italian military and town bands. See
>http://www.contrabass.com/pages/anche.html.

Yes, I know about this instrument. But since it is very unlikely that one
would be available in any symphony orchestra, I don't consider it as a
possibility. Even if an instrument could be found, there are not many
players around (although the fingering of cb. a anche is simple and logical
indeed), I suppose. For sarrusophones, saxes, and clarinets there should
always be found someone to play the contrabass versions with minimal training.

However, doesn't the sound of the contrabasse a anche resemble quite a lot
that of the sarrusophone? Anyone heard?

- Jopi Harri