Márquez - Danzón No. 2, and the Holton B-flat tuba

[bloke]

I'm finding my own choices to use my compact Holton B-flat tuba to be interesting.

Scheduled next week (after this last cimbasso week on the Schubert) is Arturo Márquez' Danzón No. 2 (a piece that has become somewhat mainstream, and tends to be programmed fairly often).

which begins in a B-major-ISH modality (only 3 sharps in the key sig', but...), and eventually moves into flat keys (including B-flat major).

Normally, the (and mine is particularly nice) C tuba would be the obvious choice, but - with my adjusted semitone 5th valve (which puts pitches such as B natural and E-natural spot on (rather than the horribly-sharp 2-4 or the usually-saggy 5-2-4...if a rare 5-valve B-flat tuba), the Holton steps forward and barks out, "ME, SIR!"

[bone-a-phone]

Yes, I played that with a local orchestra a couple of years ago. Lots of fun. Tuba and bass bone have a lot of big V-I type licks together. Need a tuba with plenty of punch. Sitting in the orchestra playing was a lot more satisfying than any of the recordings I've heard of this piece.

[prairieboy1]

Your Holton powerplant will be just perfect for this piece. I played this piece several years ago and the tuba part was great fun!

[hup_d_dup]

This piece has a difficult mute transition, which I chose to ignore.

Hup

[Mark]

I've played this a few times. It is a lot of fun. The mute transition is a problem. I pull out the mute and hold it in my left hand until I have time to set it down. The trombones are muted too and most conductors would notice if the tuba was not.

[bloke]

I am reminded now of a place where there are five beats to remove a mute, so as to repeat what was just played (muted) without the mute.
In the past, I recall pulling the mute out, playing the three unmuted pitches, and then setting the mute on the floor. Did I do something wrong?

[windshieldbug]

Did I do something wrong?

Yes. Throw the mute into the violas!

[bloke]

...but what is one of those violas happens to be a rare 1700's-vintage viola?
I could be sued for - well - as much as $200.

Did I do something wrong?

Yes. Throw the mute into the violas!

[Mark]

In the past, I recall pulling the mute out, playing the three unmuted pitches, and then setting the mute on the floor. Did I do something wrong?

No, this is what you have to do in the Márquez.