contrabass

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con·tra·bass

(kŏn′trə-bās′)

adj.

Pitched an octave below the normal bass range.

[Obsolete Italian contrabasso : Italian contra-, against (from Latin contrā-; see contra-) + Italian basso, bass (from Medieval Latin bassus, low).]

con′tra·bass′ist n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

contrabass

(ˌkɒntrəˈbeɪs)

1. (Instruments) a member of any of various families of musical instruments that is lower in pitch than the bass

2. (Instruments) another name for double bass

adj

(Instruments) of or denoting the instrument of a family that is lower than the bass

contrabassist n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

con•tra•bass

(ˈkɒn trəˌbeɪs)

n.

1. double bass.

adj.

2. pitched an octave below the bass in a family of instruments.

[1590–1600; < Italian contrabbasso=contra- contra-² + basso bass1]

con′tra•bass`ist (-ˌbeɪ sɪst, -ˌbæs ɪst) n.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	contrabass - largest and lowest member of the violin family bass fiddle, bull fiddle, double bass, string bass, bass viol bass - the member with the lowest range of a family of musical instruments bowed stringed instrument, string - stringed instruments that are played with a bow; "the strings played superlatively well"
Adj.	1.	contrabass - pitched an octave below normal bass instrumental or vocal range; "contrabass or double-bass clarinet" double-bass low-pitched, low - used of sounds and voices; low in pitch or frequency

Translations

контрабас

contrabass

[ˌkɒntrəˈbeɪs] N → contrabajo m

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

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References in classic literature ?

In the second act there was scenery representing tombstones, there was a round hole in the canvas to represent the moon, shades were raised over the footlights, and from horns and contrabass came deep notes while many people appeared from right and left wearing black cloaks and holding things like daggers in their hands.

View in context

The contrabass balalaika is basically a huge balalaika that rests on the ground on a wooden or metal pin that is drilled into one of its corners.

From Russia with love -- "Russian Renaissance" shines at Wheaton College

The work, commissioned by the Bach Choir, is for six soloists, chorus and semi-chorus, cello ensemble, contrabass, organ, and percussion.

Bulletin Board

Temiz became a professional musician in 1955 and founded the band Xaba with the legendary South African contrabass player Johnny "Mbizo" Dyani and trumpeter Mongezi Feza in 1972.

6th Jazz in Ramadan fest kicks off with percussionist Okay Temiz

He eventually designed an entire family of saxophones, ranging from the diminutive sopranino to the huge contrabass. (4) The most popular saxophones in use today are the soprano, alto, tenor and baritone.

The saxophone: Is it a legitimate instrument?

They have a wonderful energy on stage which I am sure our audience will love." Rastak is comprised of: Siroos (Siamak) Sepehri (Band Leader and Tar); Seyed Farzad Moradi (Vocals, Tanbour, Setar, Dotar, Ghopoz and Dohol); Seyed Behzad Moradi (Vocals, Daf, Dohol, Damam, Desarkoten, Tonbak and Kakhon); Akbar Esmaeilipour Farsangi (Tar); Sepehr Saadati (Contrabass); Negar Ezazi (Daf and other percussions); Yaser Navazandeh Gorji (Ney, Sorna, Neyanban, Labak, Balaban, Laleva and Doneli); Saba Jamali (Qanoon); Maedeh (Dina) Doosti (Kamanche and Gheychak); Sara Naderi Asfarjani (Dotar, Setar, Naghareye Azari, Tonbak and Damam); Farzad Khorshid Savar (Daf and other percussions); Mohammad Mazhari (Kamancheh); Bita Ghasemi (Gheychak); and Mir Omid Mostafavi Kooche Bagh (Tonbak).

Iranian folk music troupe set for frist performance at ROHM in Oman

The score, dedicated to Sir William and Lady Glock, is formezzo-soprano and bass accompanied by guitar, alto flute, English horn,bass clarinet, bass trombone, piano, violin, viola, cello, contrabass,and percussion.

Selected program notes

The band now has more songs and tunes in its repertoire as well as more ukuleles, including the tiny sopranino, the contrabass, and the fuzz-distorted, portable Judas Ukulele.

PREVIEW; The Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain St David's Hall, Cardiff

Contrabass plays a solemn funeral theme based on the structure of the popular song Y[pounds sterling]Frere Jacques'.

QPO wows audience with Mahler's Symphony No 1 Y[pounds sterling]Titan'

The company makes everything from student grade trombones for about PS800 to custom contrabass trombones costing around PS7,500.

MP's visit to the only UK trombone maker

The continuo on this recording consists of cello, harp, violin, contrabass, and organ.

Musica Vaticana: Studio de Musique Ancienne de Montreal

Mr Godkhindi became the first Indian flautist to perform the eight-feet contrabass flute and the first Indian to represent 'Bansuri' at the World Flute Festival held in Mendoza, Argentina.