Talk:Contrabassoon

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[edit] Brahms and the contrabassoon

Brahms uses the contra in all but one of his symphonies; in #2 he uses a tuba instead, the only time he did so. I don't know why he made that choice...anybody have an idea? Wspencer11 20:09, 13 July 2006 (UTC)

maybe because the contrabassoon was out of order temporarily and was forced to use a similar instrument

[edit] Early contra usage

Bach calls for the contrabassoon in the St. John Passion. Shouldn't that get preference over the Beethoven example? And does it turn up in the original wind-band scoring for Handel's Fireworks Music? --Wspencer11 (talk to me...) 16:10, 4 October 2006 (UTC)

• Beethoven was the first symphonic usage, which I believe is stated. 64.251.50.35 15:37, 23 October 2006 (UTC)
• The instrument in St.John's is only refered to as bassono grosso. The instrument did not exist in an operable form during Bach's time. Most scholars think that Bach was refering to a larger bassoon, perhaps a third lower than the modern instrument, because there was not a standard size/key at the time. See books on Bach's continuo group.