Ensemble Musikfabrik on: The Double Bell Trombone with Bruce Collings

Ensemble Musikfabrik on: The Double Bell Trombone with Bruce Collings
Valerij Lisac, camera and video-edit
more tutorials @ www.musikfabrik.eu/de/blog
Commissioned by Ensemble Musikfabrik © 2015 Valerij Lisac, www.klanghafen.de

[@BassTrombone95]

Man, this makes me want to make a bass trombone version of this. So that would mean three valves. Two for regular playing and one for the second bell. I would love to see something like that, and I'd especially love to play something like that.

[@billygarvey633]

I was hoping you could play both simultaneously and use a trigger to affect only one and have them play a fifth apart

[@williamofdallas]

Would that even be possible given the same embouchure input?

[@minka866]

@@williamofdallas , what I did understand was the rotor valve changes the bell changing the intonation and embouchure input so just seeing you doing it.

[@georgeparkins777]

@@williamofdallas you are correct. It would be impossible for your lips to vibrate like that. Generally no vibrating surface can produce two notes except under very specific circumstances. The only way to seem to produce two notes on brass is to hum into the instrument as you buzz and it sounds... predictably... like ass.

[@williamofdallas]

@@georgeparkins777 ayup

[@3OrMoreBones]

Put the who in the what now???

[@xkay-six1845]

This is one of the coolest yet most bizarre things I've ever seen

[@foundingchampion5194]

A fun looking toy and it turns into a some-what normal looking bass trombone when you're in a normal band. Obviously meant for people with loads of extra time and money on their hands. Many kudos to Bruce and Rath on this.

[@hotrodbreck]

I wish I had one

[@rkomada88]

Finally someone made Dr Seuss' Floobelthorp.

[@lolom8772]

I’d love to own one of those

[@cyborgjonny]

Very useful for musicals

[@ThinkingEuropean]

So cool!

[@lisah9992]

Cool, but not very useful. I want one though

[@jamesc.lebens5136]

I remember you in Minnesota. Interesting stuff!

[@angus6495]

someone has a bit too much money

[@leodominion7193]

i understand why he would add a feature to play backwards. But whats the benefit of playing backwards? does it give ypu a different tone?

[@sebastianzaczek]

When hearing it live you will clearly hear a difference between him playing towards you and away from you, it doesn't do a big difference in a recording like this though. Imagine someone talking to you and then at some point they turn around facing away from you and keep talking in the same manner. That's roughly the effect that you get.

[@peterharrison5833]

Very cool.

[@JohnVonGomes]

Want one so bad

[@rlevitta]

Using this with one bell facing backwards, if you were in a marching band - do I need to say it - I wouldn’t know if you were coming or going.

[@sebastianzaczek]

This is a really nice instrument and i already have some ideas what could be written for such an instrument...😄 Just in case those ideas will ever turn into something, would you like and have the time to have a look at people's compositional ideas for this instrument?

[@carlenger9707]

now, have rath make a double belled bass trombone with 3 valves

[@bobboscarato1313]

What's the weight of that dual bell trombone?; I have a bass Stradivarius bone with 10.5" bell and it's quite heavy!

[@brucecollings6263]

I'm not sure of the actual weight but it is similar to a lighter bass trombone. The mutes make it heavier, of course. The Rath construction is nice because it lacks the two braces in the back and the Hagmann valves are fairly light-weight. I do tend to pick lighter mutes but I have used heavier ones with no problem. A hand brace like the one from Rath is pretty much essential.

[@bobboscarato1313]

@@brucecollings6263 Thanks for the update!

[@twiiii1]

Why not have a bell that points up like a baryton or Euphonium.

[@bingram10146]

He is so Canadian.

[@mfalls8422]

Where to buy?

[@MAXYISSICK]

Ottis the Otter It's a one off build by Michael Rath Trombones. If you wanted this, you could. Although it might cost you a bit more. Unless you need it this instrument it's somewhat a novelty. That being said Rath trombones are the best so I'd definitely recommend getting one!

[@Johninsactown]

How do I get one?

[@wiebemartens1030]

1. Get in touch with a trombone builder/somewhere with the skills to build or change trombones. 2. Get enough money together I guess

[@feelgoodcharlie3822]

I too do not also use my middle finger to point. Just FYI.

[@0scillator]

You know, i could see the potential until he got to the part that plays backwards. That is dam stupid lmao

[@matthewharris065]

But here's the thing, it would give composers other options and venues to explore. French horns are intended to have the bell facing back and the sound that the audience hears is the reflection of that sound, NOT the direct sound. I imagine he either had a piece in mind r is having one written where a very similar concept is used to give the trombone a similarly different sound. I'm not saying that this will ever become a necessity or that people should go out and get this done, but there are/will be uses for it. Also keep in mind that unique horns like this are scarce, so if this piece is written and one of his colleagues wants to play it, or if there is a part in a new orchestral piece that requires it they'd usually just rent the horn from him, meaning it eventually pays for itself. Still, I bet Michael Rath was just thinking "why not" while he was building this thing.... Haha

[@saulmoran7369]

daBOMB390 plus many marching band drill shows require you face the back to project away from the judges or audience. This would allow an amazing trombone feature with the bell switching

[@riss9258]

Jesus Christ

[@disneymatt01]

No … pass

[@holton345]

Out of ideas. Devoid of inspiration. Relying on gimmicks. Unbelievably sad. Oh, and Mr. Rath did a bang-up job building this, but his initial reaction was the correct and deserved one.