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Re: Symphonic Sound

Alastair,  I believe John Fletcher's main instrument was an EEb Tuba
(Besson) for his whole career.
Is that not correct?

Mark Freeh (NYC)

----------
> From: Alastair Wheeler <alastair@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: brass-band@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: Symphonic Sound
> Date: Saturday, May 23, 1998 5:45 AM
> 
> On Thu, 21 May 1998, Hilary Mateer wrote:
> 
> > Can someone tell me how to play a tuba symphonically?
> 
> It's more a difference in attitude - in a band you aim to produce a warm,
> wide cushion of sound for everyone to rest upon, whereas orchestrally
this
> is provided by the string basses (mainly) and the tuba is most used as a
> bass for the 3 trombones, not always the happiest arrangment.
> 
> > I have never played in an orchestra and was not aware of a different
way
> > of playing the instrument. I play a BBb Bass in a Brass Band and a Wind
> > Band and the only differences I was aware of was that :-
> > 1) The Music is scored in Bass clef in a wind band instead of Treble
> > 2) We only have 2 tubas in a wind band instead of 4 (maybe thats all we
> > can get)
> 
> I'd guess that's all you can get.  A wind band with 4 good EEbs sounds
> great (you also have the bass resonance from the reeds)
> 
> Historically, military bands played only one of each bass when restricted
> to a small number of players, 21 I think it was.  Most forces bands of 40
> - 60 players used between 3 and 5 basses.
> 
> > 3) The wind band sound is much more open than brass band which means I
> > can actually hear what I am playing
> 
> That's the difference in tone colours for you!
> 
> > Maybe I am missing someting essential! Can someone please enlighten me.
> > 
> > If orchestras do not use BBb or EEb Basses what pitch are they?
> 
> They are tubas.  Very rarely are the pitches specified by the composer,
> and they may be ignored by the player (the conductor probably won't
> notice)  A quick guide to a large subject:
> 
> British practice used to be for an F tuba, this changed mid-century to Eb
> because of the influence of bands.  More recently, players have been
using
> the low CC for 'larger' works.  This has long been the standard
instrument
> practically everywhere else, with the occasional F for high stuff.  (the
> British F and Eb are of course top action, the others front)
> 
> French practice used to be the high c tuba, a tone up from the euph.
> This explains certain pieces like 'Pictures at an exhebition' which are a
> little high, the solo going up to G sharp concert.  This is normally
> played on euph (I did this with the OU Philarmonia, the trombones have
the
> movement off) but a good tubist should manage it on an Eb.  If I had the
> choice, an F would probably be best for the whole piece, as there is very
> little low stuff.
> 
> > Hilary Mateer
> > 
> > BBb Bass - Loxley Silver Band
> > Bass - Newfield Community Concert Band
> 
> -- 
>   Alastair Wheeler	 
>   Euphonium & Trombone				   Fundamental
Brass
>   Bass Trombone				  City of Oxford Brass
Band
>   alastair@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx       
http://www.new.ox.ac.uk/~alastair
>   "I am following my fish"
> 
> 
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