Contrabass Sarrusophone

Presented by www.hansenbrassrepair.com. Sarrusophone being played with tuba, tenor sax, and double reed mouthpieces.

[@Megafish117]

You have to keep in mind that someone, somewhere mathematically measured and curled metal tubing around in such a way that it would make these exact sounds, as well as precisely drill each individual hole to where this "instrument" would make these sounds. Someone had to look at this and say, "This is not an accident. I wanted this to happen and I'm proud of it."

[@KawhackitaRag]

Absolutely right!

[@6to7figures]

Uhhhh this guy is just bad at it

[@balsamicbassoon6202]

@@6to7figures No he is not bad at it.

[@balsamicbassoon6202]

@@6to7figures Try listening to contrabass instruments. This is what they sound like. big, ratttly, grumbly, growly

[@youtuuba]

I wonder who actually needs to keep this in mind, at least any more so than with any large wind instrument?

[@SpartanLaserCanon]

One of the only instruments that can do Analog Dubstep

[@dzuy12]

the didgeridoo

[@SpartanLaserCanon]

Michael Nguyen You can only play 1 note with it though so it sucks for dubstep even though it wounds like a dubstep instrument.

[@TraveleroftheBurningAbyss]

I play contrabass clarinet. the whole thing is just dubstep pretty much. in the lower octave, that is.

[@IsidorSynthwave]

bass clarinet

[@XavierGreyhound42667]

isotrbo Bari Sax actually would make a killing off it. Bad enough it hurts my marching band's ears to hear it play. xD

[@StevenShields29]

How on earth could such a charming, delicate instrument have ever died out?

[@OrchestrationOnline]

Keep in mind that the player is a technician and not a specialist, and that he's playing in a tiny workshop. The sarrusophone would never have been used in French orchestral scores if it had sounded that brutal.

[@Matyjas94PL]

OrchestrationOnline That's not true. Check the original orchestration of symphonie phantastique. The Dies Irae solo is played originally with trombones and sarrusophones.

[@OrchestrationOnline]

"The sarrusophone would never have been used if..." NOT "The sarrusophone was never used..."

[@skellingtonsroundabout1137]

Sam i Max you mean ophicliedes, the Sorcerer's Apprentice originally used contrabass sarrusophones.

[@glanville709]

Thanks for the clarification. I am indeed the technician who restored this instrument. I am a trombonist, so playing the contra-bass sarrusophone was a stretch to say the least. In restoring it, I did extensive research. The customer I restored it for is a tuba player. He thought it may work like an ophecleide by using a brass mouthpiece. I knew that would not work, but the video was to show him that. I also read that a single reed tenor sax MP was sometimes used, so I tried it.

[@jochanaan58]

I have a recording of the Paris Conservatoire Orchestra with André Cluytens conducting Ravel's Ma mère l'Oye. The contrabassoon solo in Beauty and the Beast sounds much like this. French oboes and bassoons had an earthy, reedy sound until relatively recently. This sound wouldn't have been much of a stretch for a Parisian audience until perhaps the 1970s.

[@Greg07623]

Wow, I had always wanted to hear one played it a double reed, but never have now. What a remarkable sound.

[@thehastysamurai3058]

I love the sound as well

[@youtuuba]

They sound better then this, when played by an experienced player using the correct reed. There are a number of other videos that show bass and contrabass Sarrousophones being played musically.

[@wdashwor]

Wow, interesting. I've read about these instruments, but never had a chance to hear one. Thanks for posting.

[@davidnorum778]

Scott Robinson, a jazz multi-instrumentalist beyond compare plays the holy heck out of the sub-contrabass sarrusophone. He also plays every wind instrument known to man, God and the underworld. I went to college (Berklee) with him in the 70's. On my first day in the dorms, I saw this tall, skinny scruffy guy sitting on a step, surrounded by about 7 musical instrument cases and a sousaphone, playing Bird (Charlie Parker) licks on a plastic recorder. He was out of my league but I somehow got him to sub for my regular sax player on one gig, and after the trumpet player played a solo on Well You Needn't, Scott played it back almost note for note, then blew another couple choruses expanding on that. I wanted to quit music and school and go home after that.

[@tonyclements]

Sarrusophones were double reed instruments.

[@deatherman1027]

Tony Clements *are

[@BariSaxGod25]

Sarrusophones were originally double reed instruments. They could, however, be played with a single reed mouthpiece quite well, with a prime example being Sidney Bechet’s solo on Clarence Williams’ Blue Five “Mandy, Make up Your Mind.” It’s a great tune, you should give it a listen.

[@yahrah2003]

I was sitting here thinking how there's hardly any practical purpose for this instrument in a realistic musical setting. You just had to go and show me how wrong I am by pointing out someone who played it well...and of course I had to go listen to it! Thanks for the recommendation- as random as it was. Remind me to recruit you next time I play trivia! :)

[@BariSaxGod25]

@@yahrah2003 It would be my pleasure. I'm glad you found this comment interesting.

[@youtuuba]

@@yahrah2003 and once again, even with all the readily available online information on practically every subject, people are simply guessing at things instead of spending a minute looking it up. Both the Sarrousophone and the Saxophone, which by the way were invented nearly at the same time, were in large part intended to provide new woodwind instruments that could replace traditional wooden ones, being more robust, more weather resistant, playable while wearing gloves (no simple open holes, every holes had to be covered with a key, mechanical means provided to avoid the need for half-holing, etc)....this to suit military bands. The Saxophone was the better design, but the Gautrot offering (Gautrot was a major competitor of Sax), which consulted French bandmaster Sarrous, was still a useful instrument in its intended application of loud, outdoor bands; in that capacity, the bass models can replace a bassoon, and the contrabass ones can replace contrabassoons. Most were made in France and Italy, but even Conn in the States was commissioned to make the contrabass models for the US Maine Corps bands, and this was not accidental.

[@AndrewCoreyCubes]

this thing sounds like dialup internet

[@pawbiter]

Thank you for posting this video. It is fun to learn about instruments many of us don't get to see or hear very often.

[@nanoquaver]

this is the ONLY sarrusaphone video on youtube. PLEASE POST MORE. I'd like to hear sarrusaphones of other sizes if you have them. good job repairing it. the horn looks nice.

[@DivisibleByWaffle]

It sounds like the child of a bari sax and a bassoon with a tuba as the surrogate mother. Thanks for sharing this rare instrument with us!

[@dbadagna]

How excellent to finally have a sarrusophone video on KZbin!

[@ledzeppelinbabe123]

that was the coolest thing EVER!!! i have never seen or heard about it before in my life!!! Way to cool!!

[@saxmusicmail]

Conn supplied their Sarrusaphone with a modified alto sax mouthpiece, which had the chamber partly filled in, the bore plugged, drilled, and reamed to fit the bocal on the Sarrusaphone. A contrabassoon reamer works for this. I have actually made a number of Sarrusaphone mouthpieces, beginning with an alto sax mouthpiece. I plugged the bore with a piece of Delrin rod, and drilled it. The chamber was partly filled in with epoxy putty. I also lengthened the facing a bit. Players said these mouthpieces worked well.

[@mashtones]

Clarence Williams 1924 "Mandy, Make Up Your Mind" feature Sidney Bechet playing a solo on the Eb contrabass sarrusophone with a single reed mouthpiece. It's on youtube. Louis Armstrong is also featured.

[@kdegru]

Thanks for this video as I have become fascinated with the Sarrusophone. I have heard this instrument all my life not knowing what it was as I was exposed to the film music of Vic Mizzy who must have loved the instrument because he included it often to add distinctive and fun effects.

[@edwincancelii2917]

Even though the video is narrow, this is one of my favorite videos. Please make this video in widescreen, if possible.

[@idtapthat12321]

I loved the double mouthpiece.

[@ArchiteuthisDux]

I just can't imagine why that instrument never became popular.

[@SaxCorgi]

He's playing Variations on a Shaker melody on this?!? Thats awesome XD

[@DireClown30309]

That sounds amazing! Though I never would've wanted to be the one playing that in Wind Ensemble for high school.

[@chicostacos4]

Wow, that is one of the most rare instruments in the world. Very interesting sound, too.

[@3alexander3]

thank you for posting such a great video!

[@Swedbander]

For those of you asking where you can get one: Orsi wind instruments in Italy still makes sarrusophones on request, from soprano to contrabass.

[@RocknRollkat]

@Friendulum --- Yes, the instrument was designed by the Frenchman Sarrus, and it is a double reed instrument, a woodwind built in brass for more "punch".

[@RocknRollkat]

The Eb double bass Sarrusophone was designed by the French band master Sarrus, and was built in brass to give the woodwind section more penetration. It is a double reed instrument. William L. Palminteri

[@franmcmullen2115]

There's a recording from the 1920's with Sidney Bechet playing the contrabass Sarussaphone - "Mandy, Make-up your Mind"

[@albanybeardguy]

@StpMakinMeChangMyNam The Sarrusophones were intended to provide a band with a sound similar to an oboe or bassoon, but louder and stronger.

[@LowReedExpert1]

for power of sound and also because it is considerably stronger, like the saxophone. Also it possesses it's unique timbre

[@smalysbassoon]

Sarrusophone is a double reed instrument, it was invented by Gautrot in Paris in 1850-ies. Its main purpose was to replace bassoon and contrabassoon in military wind orchestras.Sarrusophone had more power,and its metal body was resistant to weather changes and rough handling.The keywork is based on Boehm system principles,so its fingerings are identical to those of saxophone.On the other hand,its timbre was rough and dull. P.S.: contrabass sarrusophone reed is the biggest of all double reeds

[@mu1tom]

This instrument is made to use a double reed. You can hear it used in the score for the film "Tombstone,"and a couple others I can† recall.

[@PrinceTyke]

Strange reference... I salute you!

[@Luigifan14]

That was hilarious. Thank you for exposing me to this instrument.

[@texansfan0187]

It actually has a specific double reed mouthpiece made for it, its a little bit bigger than a contrabassoon mouthpiece.

[@manga12]

that second is epic, sounds like a synth,and like a bit of an organ.

[@tubagirl012]

Dude! I love this thing!! :D

[@Swedbander]

@NPjazzsaxmusic : The ophicleide is also the reason why Sax gave the saxophone that characteristic "smoke-pipe" shape (so people wouldn't think a saxophone was just an ophicleide with a clarinet mouthpiece). Now that the ophicleide is forgotten, why isn't bigger saxophone built in the more ergonomic ophicleide shape?

[@oaky132x]

Seriously, Chris is an expert horn repair guy, and a great person, and one of the best musicians I've ever had the pleasure of playing with, and being buddies with....oh, and Chris, I stole (accidently) your blue lighter.... Your Pal, Oaky "Jerome" PS: You are the best Sarrussophone player I've ever heard.....and that's from the heart man (tear rolls into left eye only...........hhmmmm, that's weird)

[@pattoncommander]

Those were designed to use a reed slightly wider than contra bassoon. A bass pommer (shawm) reed works nice.

[@XEspmasterXMain]

@CorvetteCoonass I thought the contrabassoon came first but the contrabass sarrusophone was used instead of it for a while because at the time the contrabassoon was too quiet, until the contrabassoon was improved, causing this to fall out of favor.

[@XenaSocioPath]

That is awesome possum!

[@kurtarmbruster]

Basically a metal contrabassoon, made for military bands. So what's not to like? With the right mouthpiece, a perfectly serviceable reed bass! Thanks for sharing.

[@MrQuieregato]

eccezionale strumento!

[@trianglearchives5776]

2:24 how a computer farts

[@TheIzzysteve]

OMG. I so totally know what I want for christmas this year!! Lol.

[@ronniegranillo]

Wow! 227 comments!? Jess luis! What an odd yet wonderful sound.

[@RenaissanceTrucker]

Oh man! That's awesome! I've never seen one of those. I collect instruments. Sound is the berries!

[@Barrientez91]

aww I LOVE coplands Appalachian Spring, such a pretty song

[@glanville709]

@papoocanada I'm using the Tuba mouthpiece because the owner of the sarrusophone is a tuba player and thought it would work. The single reed I used because I read that single reed MP's had been used in the past.

[@daantjebariton]

In the Music Museum in Brussel, one of the best music museums in the world, they have a sarrusophone. There it has a tuba moutpiece on it, but between the sarrusophone and the mouthpiece there is a small brass pipe making a looping. Maybe try that, if it's on it there I guess it may be creating a better sound. greetings

[@Hutch_is_on_the_way]

Simple gifts was such a beautiful song and you just had to eff it up >:l

[@CorvetteCoonass]

@StpMakinMeChangMyNam This instrument was the predecessor of the Contrabassoon. Once the Contrabassoon was heard, this instrument was quickly replaced because the Contrabassoon has a much darker sound.

[@ihaveskillissue69]

Those sounds with the double reed mouth piece sounds like they could be in some hardcore techno song.

[@fartwrangler]

Considering that these were designed as reed instruments, and have a key mechanism not unlike that of a saxophone, I'm not sure why you imagined that a tuba mouthpiece was the way to go. When you repair a mandolin, do you test it with drum sticks?

[@Alavistaven2012]

It sounds like a "bassoon" that I made out of straws one summer my freshmen year of high school. That was fun :3

[@InstrumentManiac]

Hmmm, I dont know if it is your playing style but the other sarrusaphone that I heard was much smoother, and it used a Tenor Sax mouthpiece.

[@Markworth]

I love the Sarrusophone. So damn groovy. Second most undeservedly abandoned instrument -- first being Marching Alto Horn.

[@Qermaq]

Nah, this guy is a pro-level player on many instruments, esp the trombone. He is fully qualified to assess the instrument. Chris is massively equipped in terms of instrumental technique and he s playing this sarrusophone at a level equivalent to an average player back in the day.

[@agentgfh]

damn the basson mouthpiece makes it sound like an electric something! i dont even know what but it sounds cool lolol

[@BKrystall]

The Contrabass Sarrusaphone sounds exactly like the Contrabassoon. It also sounds like a contrabass sax.

[@MasterWilliam108]

Tuba mouthpiece makes it sound like our clarinet section.

[@dimmondslice]

thats a cool sound it makes. it still has a crisp woodwind sound as well as a low brass tinge. is that supposed to be some form of contrabass bassoon?

[@LowReedExpert1]

well these were made for the old marching bands like around Sousa's time with experimenting alongside the mellophone and sousaphone. this is one of the few videos and recordings ive ever seen, and its just how you use a bassoon in a concert setting but while marching with the military (when they were just a moving concert band)

[@seanjkl2]

I play tenor and bassoon and when I saw you pull the bassoon reed out I thought to myself that it was going to sound like crap but the valves or keys on the instrument look kinda like bassoon keys

[@vietstyle888]

I think the double reed mouth piece sounds best for it. :D

[@baconlabs]

It juuuust borders on that low pitch that changes into noise. I wonder if that makes it lower than the piano (in terms of frequency)?

[@XEspmasterXMain]

Yep, this was definately made to use the double reed. Although it does sound like a contrabass saxophone.

[@Positron222]

i was wondering the same thing. it's missing the piles of sousaphone bells

[@Xokzu]

today in band i used my friends baritone horn with my bair mouthpiece and it sounded like the sarrusophone with the t.sax mouthpiece lol

[@tofu.delivery.]

definitely the bassoon reed

[@tbonetime3568]

Well yea this is a double reed instrument

[@deatherman1027]

Euan Zhang what bassoon reed

[@jamesmcmillan8610]

Well, yeah, since that's what it's designed to be played with... A "sarrusophone" played with a brass mouthpiece is something called an "ophicleide."

[@AncientJethro]

It's supposed to use a double reed, similar to a bassoon mouthpiece. It's a woodwind instrument.

[@SaxCorgi]

@skittleschocolate It's called Variations on a Shaker Melody too.

[@servantlol]

my band director plays sarrusophone in our city's wind symphony!

[@ronnielockett3529]

Well that sounds like a bassoon that was a good one for you.

[@AmuseMe543]

I love how it pases when his face is in the most awkward expression.

[@AgentC2121]

Who doesn't love low sounding instruments??!?

[@tboneandmore]

That's a strange but true way of explaining it.

[@Zombbg4]

It's like a deformed love child of a bari sax and a bassoon.

[@RichardHolmesSyr]

Conn used to offer a modified SOPRANO sax mouthpiece to play contrabass sarrusophone. Might work better than the tenor?

[@lennic95]

Cool! I play the oboe. Has it got the same fingerings as the bassoon or the oboe?

[@rockerchik918]

so this is basically just them fucking around with some guy's very large, very expensive sarrusophone? i'm sure he LOVES that.

[@LowReedExpert1]

marching double reed, but also for the unique timbre of the instrument

[@RealStrategyGaming]

THis instrument is awesome on My yamaha synthesizer! thats why i searched for this.

[@AkatsukKage0]

Jesus, it makes my throat and teeth hurt just listening to it

[@Swedbander]

Imagine a band with a sarrusophone section!

[@whalesex]

Maybe it has been said before in the comments, but when he uses the double reed, did it remind anyone of a death in the old Atari Pitfall game?

[@peepers12]

This one has the best sound.... Sure

[@NPjazzsaxmusic]

reminds me of an opheclide, the instrument that inspired adolphe sax to make the first saxophones.

[@NSchrobilgen]

I heard that if you can play the sax you can play the sarrusophone because the fingerings are only slightly different. Anybody know anyone who still makes sarrusophones? I heard they are still made in Italy today.

[@TurboPanda1994]

DAYAMN!!!!!!!!!!! THATS COOL!!!!!!!!!!!

[@monteleone1010]

The Devil Mountain Jazz Band (U.S.A.) uses the very rarely seen sarrusophone.

[@singsingsing22]

what would happen if i used an oboe/double reed mouthpiece on my trumpet????? i think ill try it

[@maptrking]

does that come with a paper bag in case of hyper ventilation???? This is a VERY interesting instrument.

[@armisis]

whoa!

[@DanielProctor775]

I wanna march that thing! :D

[@likensrus]

tht thing looks so kool looking(:

[@iswm]

@rockinrolliification Yes, that's simple gifts.

[@flutemaster23]

wow lol thats crazzyyyy!