Contra Bass or Double Bass?

[Tomas E]

Which one is the most common name in a score for the Contra Bass/Double Bass.

And since made a search and found an article which I don't understand: What’s The Difference Between Contrabass And Double Bass?
https://www.mozartproject.org/whats-the ... %20Bass%3F

The double bass has more punch and is able to “speak” more clearly in higher volume situations than the single bass. Both cover the same acoustic range, but the double bass has more punch. As well as being a 4 string instrument, it is also a standard in orchestral music.

Isn't it just two different names of the same instrument?

[motet]

Contrabass (one word) and Double Bass are two words for the same instrument. That article may or may not be a not-very-funny joke:

Contrabass is a low-pitched sound that can be bass, or perch, or any other fish that resembles the perch, all within the order of perciformes

Double bass (pronounced “base” rather than fish) is the smallest string instrument, but it is the largest.

[Anders Hedelin]

Double bass (pronounced “base” rather than fish) is the smallest string instrument, but it is the largest.

News, and not, to me. I already knew that Double bass isn't pronounced 'double fish'. I didn't realise the reason why it's called 'double' though - but of course you have to (at least) double the smallest string instrument to make it the largest!

[N Grossingink]

I've never heard a player or conductor refer to the instrument as anything other than a "bass". That so-called article is nothing but hogwash. Read some of the other articles. The many misspelled words, poor usage, and unsuccessful attempts at humor are sadly typical of the internet.

[Anders Hedelin]

The many unsuccessful attempts at humor are sadly typical of the internet.

My apologies.

[N Grossingink]

My apologies.

I wasn't referring to you. I was commenting on the "Mozart Project" web page.

[Anders Hedelin]

I just made another attempt at humour. Sorry.

[David Ward]

FWIW for some reason of quirk, in my own scores I use the label Double Bassoon rather than Contrabassoon, but write Contrabass Clarinet and then Double Bass for the stringed instrument. In theory, perhaps I should be consistent and call them all double or all contra; but nobody cares.

[bkshepard]

As others have pointed out, it's two names for the same instrument. It's always been my understanding that Contra refers to its range while Double refers to what it does. In the early days of string writing, the bass instrument was typically the Cello. The Contrabass would sometimes be added to the Cello part to double the bass line an octave lower. In fact in many early orchestra pieces the part given to the players is labeled cellos and basses, or more likely celli e bassi. Of course the basses needed a low C extension in order to truly double the cello line. Otherwise they would have to either play some notes up an octave or leave them out when they dropped below the standard low E on the bass.

[Anders Hedelin]

In fact in many early orchestra pieces the part given to the players is labeled cellos and basses, or more likely celli e bassi.

Even more typically just 'bassi'.

[N Grossingink]

Of course the basses needed a low C extension in order to truly double the cello line.

Beethoven's bassist of choice was Domenico Dragonetti, who played a 3 string bass with the bottom string tuned to low C. Beethoven engaged Dragonetti to play principal bass at the premiere of his 7th Symphony. Upon seeing the part for the first time, Dragonetti remarked that had he known the difficulty of the part beforehand, he would have held out for more money.

[Tomas E]

Contrabass (one word) and Double Bass are two words for the same instrument.

I as thought then. However in the ScoreManager it's spelled in two words. Maybe a mistake by the manufacturer of the SmartMusic SoftSynth 2.

[Tomas E]

That so-called article is nothing but hogwash. Read some of the other articles. The many misspelled words, poor usage, and unsuccessful attempts at humor are sadly typical of the internet.

Your right, it shouldn't be considered as a reliable source. However the description of the "difference" between them seems reliable if one doesn't read the rest. Thanks!

[Tomas E]

FWIW for some reason of quirk, in my own scores I use the label Double Bassoon rather than Contrabassoon, but write Contrabass Clarinet and then Double Bass for the stringed instrument. In theory, perhaps I should be consistent and call them all double or all contra; but nobody cares.

Good to know! I've been wondering how much the appearance of the music affects the impression of the composer's skills, but I guess I don't need to worry too much about this part of it then.

[John Ruggero]

i wouldn't go that far. The appearance of the music definitely affects the player's impression of a composer's skills.

[N Grossingink]

If the composer says in effect to the performer: "I do not care whether you perform my music or not," we cannot argue the matter. But if he indicates: "I want you to perform and respond to this music," then his fundamental duty is to write his music so that it is accessible to interpretation. When the performer cannot approach the composer's meaning because of capriciously obscure notation, he may in effect say to the composer: "Why should I bother to puzzle out your music?" - Gardner Read

[Anders Hedelin]

Very true.

But I don't think I would respect a composer less for using the label Double Bass in stead of Contrabass.

[motet]

Contrabass (one word) and Double Bass are two words for the same instrument.

I as thought then. However in the ScoreManager it's spelled in two words. Maybe a mistake by the manufacturer of the SmartMusic SoftSynth 2.
Contrabass.png

It's definitely wrong--it's like calling a flugelhorn a Flugel Horn.

It used to say "Contrabass," as I think the General MIDI standard says. "Contra Bass" seems to have been born with SmartMusic. If you playback via VST, though, it's called "Double Bass." A dog's breakfast!

[David Ward]

i wouldn't go that far. The appearance of the music definitely affects the player's impression of a composer's skills.

Yes; but I think the point being made here is that some aspects of appearance matter more than others, and there are some which probably make no difference. If a double/contra instrument player were to claim they played their music less effectively because of the way the instrument was labelled, I might have difficulty believing them.

[John Ruggero]

I've been wondering how much the appearance of the music affects the impression of the composer's skills, but I guess I don't need to worry too much about this part of it then.

If by "this part of it" the OP meant only the Contra affair, then, of course, no one cares about that. But he seemed to be generalizing this to the "appearance of the music." I wouldn't want him to be left with the impression that anything goes in the world of music notation.

[Tomas E]

I've been wondering how much the appearance of the music affects the impression of the composer's skills, but I guess I don't need to worry too much about this part of it then.

If by "this part of it" the OP meant only the Contra affair, then, of course, no one cares about that. But he seemed to be generalizing this to the "appearance of the music." I wouldn't want him to be left with the impression that anything goes in the world of music notation.

Yes, you're right. I was only thinking of the labeling of staves. But thanks for being clear in that matter!

[ttw]

Other names I've heard are "doghouse bass" or "bull fiddle" (most common) or "string bass" or just "bass" or "bass fiddle."

[Tomas E]

Somehow I would find those first two names not to be used by a true composer, but someone just "fiddling around".

[AnneMillington]

My favorite is "contrabass" abbreviated "CB". I say this because there is no real right answer, and it depends a lot on personal taste and consistency. I don't think I would judge a classical composer or arranger too much unless they called it a gut bucket. That is just not a good image for me.

I hear people in the electric bass world refer to it as "upright bass", or "stand-up bass", to differentiate from electric bass. The thing's got a lotta names!

[Anders Hedelin]

I've also heard "plywood bass", which might have more to do with the player (or instrument maker) than the composer.