I was just wondering if anyone knew of any concert band pieces that have a contrabassoon part in them. I have the privilege of going to a school that owns a contrabassoon, and being their Symphonic Band's resident contrabassoonist. The only problem is that most pieces don't have contrabassoon in them. It would certainly help if they were easily obtainable, too. Any information will help.

Does your school operate an intermediate/advanced level band, or is it more 'expert level'?
Intermediate/advanced band music will very, very rarely have parts for more obscure instruments (Like the Contrabassoon), for the simple reason that the music is meant for schools, and most schools don't have Contrabassoons of Ophicleides.

However, it shouldn't be that difficult to mash something together using the Tuba, Bassoon and other common low-instrument parts, if you really need it.

I go to a high school of the arts, and it's apparantly the 2nd best in the country (for arts), so it's pretty advanced. We don't need any pieces with contrabassoon, but it would be nice to have one.

Maybe you can just read off the bassoon part so you'll just be playing an octave lower?

I don't think my band director would let me do that.

How come? It depends on how exposed the part is, I suppose.

Another suggestion- you could double bass trombone if there's a part for that?

In that case, I suggest for you to mash up a part using existing low-brass and low-woodwind parts. Your director will probably appreciate that!
For example, use Tuba or B. Trombone for the main accompaniment (vary it up a bit), and add in some of the necessary bassoon parts. It's also good idea to do a bit of improv of your own.

Donald Hunsberger's transcriptions of Holst's "The Planets" has some pretty exposed contrabassoon parts. Also, nearly everything by Karel Husa for wind ensemble has great contrabassoon parts. David Maslanka's music also has an affinity for the low instruments: bass saxophone, contrabassoon, contrabass clarinet. These are just the first few that come to mind. There are thousands and thousands of pieces with contrabassoon. If I think of more, I'll post here.

I feel I should clarify; if there's no contrabassoon part, I play bassoon, so I'm not not (double negative ) playing if there's no contrabassoon part.


This helped a lot. Thanks!