[Dixielandjazz] RE: Double Bass

[Hans Koert]

Thank you Brian.

A friend sent me off-list this message about the subject. 
A deep (double- or contra-) bass voice is first found among the viols. http://www.earlybass.com/slatford.htm

Double bass is now emancipated related to cello like viola compared to violin.We could name it "viola-cello", since it brings in the same levels a deeper and warmer sound, and on the other hand, bassists have reached maturity to personnalise and vibrate their sounds. The pear form is destinated yet to solo (concerti, sonates, contemporary pieces), whereas the big cello form suits to the orchestra and jazz, because more powerful in the low register. http://members.aol.com/tmlbar/englishhisto.htm

Contrabass German, Contrabasso Italian, Contre-basse French, Double Bass English, Double String English, Kontra Bass (unknown), Bass Violin English, Basse contre French?, Contra-Violin (unknown), Violin Bass English. http://www.organstops.org/c/Contrabass.html

Contrabass is sometimes a synonym for Subbass.

Contra Bourdon English, Grand Bourdon English, French, Gros Bourdon French, Grossuntersatz German, Major Bass English, Majorbass German, Sub Bourdon English, Soubasse French, Sous Basse French, Subbass German, Untersatz German, Double Stopped Diapason English, Basso Profundo Italian?, Bordun-Subbass German, Contrabass German?, Diaocton Greek, Double-Stopped Bass English, Infra Bass Latin, Grosssubbass German, Grossunterbass German, Pedal Pipes English, Pileata Maxima Latin, Unterbass German. http://www.organstops.org/c/ContraBourdon.html

A deep (double- or contra-) bass voice is first found among the viols. http://www.hcoweb.co.uk/instruments.php?instrument_no=2

Keep swinging 

Hans Koert 

El Redescubrimiento de Oscar Aleman project 
http://www.people.zeelandnet.nl/koerthchkz 

  -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
  Van: TBW504 at aol.com [mailto:TBW504 at aol.com]
  Verzonden: maandag 17 november 2003 13:23
  Aan: koerthchkz at zeelandnet.nl
  CC: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
  Onderwerp: Re: Double Bass


  The term double bass (the terms double bass, bass violin, and contrabass are interchangeable) usually refers to the string bass, as opposed to the brass bass or tuba (note that a sousaphone is really a tuba adapted for marching) Whereas the string bass, the lowest pitched instrument of the violin family,  is normally of a standard size the tuba is found as a number of varying sizes ranging from the baritone horn or saxhorn, and including the bombardon - a tuba in Eflat, to the usually encountered Bflat tuba, and the huge double Bflat tuba. It is a technically complicated subject with endless instrumental variations, the orchestral tuba developed for Richard Wagner for instance. Personally, I use the term bass to denote the stringed instrument; brass bass for anything made of metal; and electric bass for the bass guitar in modern usage. Pedantry corner: Allan Jaffe played a helicon with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band as well as a more conventional tuba. By the way, I looked up helicon in a dictionary of music and it said that it was a bass trumpet. Now there's an opportunity to amaze your friends. Wait for a lull in the conversation before announcing, "Of course Alan Jaffe's walking bass on bass trumpet whilst technically anachronistic nevertheless underpins the temporal progress of any duple meter."
  Brian Wood.