For better or worse, Contraforte sounds a lot like Eppelsheim's other great achievement, the Tubax, rather than like a contrabassoon. Or maybe I'm just not used to a contrabassoon sounding that clear! It is a great sound, it just doesn't sound like a bassoon anymore. In a larger group like a wind ensemble or orchestra, it would probably be harder to tell apart from a contrabassoon, except maybe that it's too in tune too much of the time and rarely cracks notes. :)
For better or worse, Contraforte sounds a lot like Eppelsheim's other great achievement, the Tubax, rather than like a contrabassoon. Or maybe I'm just not used to a contrabassoon sounding that clear! It is a great sound, it just doesn't sound like a bassoon anymore. In a larger group like a wind ensemble or orchestra, it would probably be harder to tell apart from a contrabassoon, except maybe that it's too in tune too much of the time and rarely cracks notes. :)