There are almost no recordings of contrabass trombone playing alone, so I wanted to post a brief unaccompanied improvisation that would give people a chance to hear the instrument by itself when it isn't blasting from the depths of an opera pit.
In February 2010 I had a week-long opportunity to double on contrabass for the first time in my life! Adjusting to the instrument's different positions and very large mouthpiece was a welcome challenge. I made this recording on my seventh day with the instrument. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive my technical shortcomings.
My orchestra rented this contrabass from Juilliard. It is a HAAG contrabass pitched in F. (Yes, the positions are different than they are on bass trombone.) The mouthpiece is a "JK EXCLUSIVE KBP 1B"
This improvisation is in A minor. The highest note is the A at the top of the bass clef staff, and the lowest note is three octaves lower. This means that the lowest note is the same as the last key on a standard piano keyboard.
Every bass trombonist fantasizes about playing contrabass, so finally getting to play one after so many years of waiting was a dream come true. Many thanks to the folks at my orchestra who made this possible.
I hope everyone enjoys hearing the contrabass trombone!!!
8 мар 2010
