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Re: Low Notes Adhering to Written Page?

SEMarcus@xxxxxxx wrote:
> 
> There are many brass band recordings that seem to contain a lot of BBBb's,
> AAAb's, etc.
> Are these always notated in the scores (they are, sometimes), or are the BBb
> Basses taking liberties, or is it the resulting effect of the BBb and EEb
> basses playing in fifths?
> (Or is it merely the poor quality of what audiophiles would call my old
> mid-fi subwoofer-less stereo system?)
> 
> Kindest regards,
> 
> Steve Marcus
> BBb Bass
> http://www2.qrsmusic.com/qrsmusic/Mrktng/Dealers/Butsound/BeautSound.htm
> http://www.steinway.com
> 
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Hi, Steve.

On many brass band recordings and performances you can clearly hear the
BBb tubas "taking liberties" and putting parts down an octave, and this
has become common practice with most BBb tuba players. The effect of
"pedalling" is used as an effect to gain a more "organ-like" quality of
sound, and (when used correctly and sparingly) can make the hairs on the
back of one's neck stand on end! Unfortunately we went through a period
when some players insisted on doing this all the time, consequently
resulting in a very "muddy" sound, and sadly this is still the case in
some bands. There are several schools of thought on the use of "pedals"
in the tuba section, some think that if the composer wished them to be
there, he/she would have written them in the first place, I remember
some years ago while playing for the Jaguar Cars Band in England, I was
told by a certain Mr. Bramwell Tovey that I "sounded like a cow farting
and could I please NOT do it again!!" 
My own opinion on the subject is that many of the earlier works written
for the brass band were composed at a time when the availability of 4
valve BBb tubas was poor, if not non existent (the use of the old King,
York, Conn tubas was sadly a complete taboo; we brits are historically
very parochial when it comes to brass band instruments.) thereby making
anything below low E (written F#) impossible. Now these instruments are
in common use today, I see no reason why the practice of ONE player
playing down the octave should be frowned upon. One very important point
must be remembered: This practice should be done ONLY as the music
warrants and not used excessively.

I hope this helps somewhat in your quest for answers.
Cheers, 
Adrian J. Raven


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