Superio, Classica, Studio: contrabass, greatbass, bass, tenor, alto, soprano, sopranino, garklein

The Maker

            Vairis Nartiss is a professional trombone player from Latvia. His solo career includes playing in the Latvian National Opera Symphony Orchestra, as well as being the owner of one of the largest Latvian music stores, NartissLV.  He also runs a program for talented children to support their musical development in their professional life.     

           In parallel with his performance career, Vairis has developed an extensive knowledge of brass instruments.  He strives to widen the capability of the trombone, introducing new devices such as multi-effect processors, loop machines, etc., in his music store workshops.

 Sackbut Development

            In 2009, Vairis was interested in trying the sackbut.  But he soon realized that it was extremely hard to find relatively inexpensive, high quality instruments, and used instruments were not readily available. Vairis finally obtained an instrument and learned how to play, as well as examining how it was built.  He then assembled a team of 3 craftsmen to develop a new instrument, with the goal of developing a high quality, inexpensive instrument.  Now, in 2012, their new sackbut is ready.

            Their hope is that the high quality and competitive price will attract more amateur as well as professional performers to the sackbut and other early brass music.

 Construction

            They introduced several design innovations.

            1. No wire in the bell. It was a big challenge to make a professional double layer bell without the inside wire.   Why did they want to do that? This design helps produce a more colorful sound, with less dampening of the sound.    

             2. Mouthpiece. The mouthpiece has a rounded, more comfortable lip plate, a change from the Baroque flat lip plate, and is gold plated. They also experimented with the thickness of the walls of our mouthpiece, settling on a slightly larger backbore to achieve a more powerful sound with our bell without wire.

Future

         In the future they will develop a full set of sackbuts - Tenor Sackbut, Alto Sackbut and Bass Sackbut.

Responses to our instrument

 "I love my new Nartiss Tenor Sackbut! This beautiful horn sounds great and has a wonderful Renaissance sound!"

Bob Ferrel, International Jazz Trombonist-Sackbut & Buccin Dragon Trombones & Private Music Instructor       

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"I have been privileged to be one of the lucky first to try out the new sackbut of the young NARTISS company, and I am left with a great first impression. From the experience of 2 concert programs played with the instrument I am safe to say that it allows the player to produce a pleasant tone in all registers. Since the NARTISS sackbut is manufactured from strong metal I am specially pleased with the sound of the low register. I was able to avoid a few instrument changes, thanks to the rich tone produced by the NARTISS tenor, whilst playing the bass part. In the same time it assures great playability in the upper register. NARTISS tenor sackbut has given me a splendid impression, and it is with great interest I am looking forward to the bass and alto models."

Valter Jürgenson, Early music ensemble Hortus Musicus, Tallinn, Estonia