What is a Cimbasso and who invented it? | Classic FM

“You might think it looks more like a space heater than it does an instrument,” said John Whitener, Principal Tuba of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
John introduces us to the cimbasso - a brass instrument with origins in 19th century Italy, that plays an essential role in blockbuster action movies and video game soundtracks today.
Filmed backstage at the Royal Albert Hall at Classic FM Live.
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[@hvglaser]

This guy really likes to breathe

[@martinmarsola6477]

A great transplanted musical instrument! 🇬🇧🙂👍🇺🇸

[@brucekuehn4031]

The cimbasso is able to hit those low notes without creating the excessive overtones of the tuba. Shaking the chandeliers is one of the joys of the tuba, but a cimbasso holds more to the fundamentals and combines well with the trombones.

[@timparsons3565]

I love the rough sound it gives, as opposed to the smooth, round tones of the tuba. Really adds some power to that bass register. That said, that's not an instrument. It's a frickin' fog horn.

[@LukeFaulkner]

Crazy how it turns flowers to gold.

[@Nosregni]

It’s the Mukkinese Battle Horn!

[@ultramet]

Wow! I’m gonna return the Ophicleide that I just bought on Ebay and get me one of these instead 😮!

[@katherinarodriguezalvarez8641]

❤

[@ze_glitchy_gamer7629]

Curious...

[@DavidA-ps1qr]

Ghastly thing. I believe it tended to go sharp under concert hall lights.

[@evansentnote]

Hmm, looks like there are positions for Americans in Scottish ensembles.

[@spmoran4703]

Its awful