Contraforte

The contraforte (spelled Kontraforte in German) is a proprietary instrument with a similar range to the contrabassoon produced by Benedikt Eppelsheim and Guntram Wolf. It is intended to have improved dynamics and intonation over the distinctive but sometimes reticent sound of the conventional contrabassoon. The contraforte uses a different and wider bore than the contrabassoon to produce a distinct tone.

Wolf and Eppelsheim developed an accurate bore taper and precise keyworks in order to simplify fingerings in spite of the instrument's large size.

In October 2010 Lewis Lipnick, contrabassoonist for the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington DC, played it in a performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. According to Lipnick, the other members of the orchestra, who used to make jokes about the sound of his old contrabassoon, praised the sound of the contraforte. ^[1] As the soloist of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra in February 2012 Lipnick also performed with the contraforte Kalevi Aho's extensive Contrabassoon Concerto, and as a solo instrument it proved to be superior to the traditional contrabassoon, because of its very wide dynamic range and clear, focused intonation.

Technical specifications

The contraforte has many technical aspects that have not been associated with instruments like the bassoon and contrabassoon.

The contraforte has a written range from A1 - G5 (in scientific pitch notation), which sounds as A0 - G4.

Large toneholes allow for a free response and a very large dynamical range.

The pivot screws lie in synthetic sleeves for silent key actions, and push rods make for easy key action with low friction.

The half-hole mechanism provides a clean, silent octave for F# and G3. There are also well-built automatic octave keys from notes A3 to F4.

References

↑ Midgette, Anne. "NSO's Lewis Lipnick trades in his contrabassoon for contraforte's sweeter sound", Washington Post, Washington, DC, 2010 Oct 14. Retrieved on 2010-10-17.

External links

Contraforte page on Benedikt Eppelsheim's web site, includes recordings.
Contraforte page on Guntram Wolf's web site.

Images

Contraforte, pictured with a B flat Tubax

Double reed instruments

(also includes those with quadruple and sextuple reeds; does not include bagpipes)

European classical (modern)	Piccolo oboe Piccolo heckelphone Oboe Oboe d'amore Cor anglais (English horn) Bass oboe Heckelphone Lupophon Contrabass oboe Tenoroon Bassoon Semi contrabassoon Contrabassoon Contraforte Contrabassophone Reed contrabass Sarrusophone Rothphone Tromboon

European classical (historical)	Aulos Baroque oboe Bassanello Cornamuse Cromorne Crumhorn Dulcian Hirtenschalmei Kortholt Oboe da caccia Pommer Rackett Rauschpfeife Shawm

African traditional	Algaita Rhaita Zukra

Asian traditional	Balaban Duduk Guan Gyaling Hichiriki Hne Kèn Kèn bầu Kèn đám ma Kuzhal Mizmar Nadaswaram Ottu Pi Piri Shehnai Sundari Sorna Sralai Suona Taepyeongso Tangmuri Zurna/Surnai

European traditional	Aulos Bifora Birbynė Bombard Catalan shawm Dulzaina Graïle Gralla Musette Piffero Sopila Tárogató Zurla Surma-horn

American traditional	Chirimía Trompeta china

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