Contrabass trumpet
Contrabass natural trumpet in E♭ built c. 1920 by Evette & Schaeffer. St Cecilia's Hall, Edinburgh | |
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| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 423.233 (Valved aerophone sounded by lip vibration) |
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The contrabass trumpet is the largest and lowest-pitched member of the trumpet family, sounding below the bass trumpet. Only a few exist. The instrument appeared in the mid-20th century and has no orchestral or jazz repertoire. Usually built in 12′ F a perfect fourth below the B♭ bass trumpet, it has the same length as the F contrabass trombone, cimbasso, or tuba. Some (sometimes called the subcontrabass trumpet) are built larger in 18′ B♭— an octave below the bass trumpet and two octaves below the standard B♭ trumpet.