pulling out old books

[bloke]

I just pulled out and removed dust from an OLD (Southern Music - 1972) tuba etude book entitled "28 Advanced Studies"

It's a combination of vocalises written by a 19th century mezzo-soprano vocal instructor, Mathilde Marchesi https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathilde_Marchesi and - from the same span of time - a German violinist and voice instructor, Heinrich Panofka https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinrich_Panofka .

David Kuehn https://musicacademy.org/big-profiles/david-l-kuehn/ did the transcriptions. I believe he preceded Don Little at North Texas, moved up to chairman, later on to bigger/better things, I believe he's still alive, and I recall (when he lived in Denton) that he had a sousaphone-with-vines-growing-all-over-it mailbox in front of his house.

I also recall I that bought the book very gently used - along with a 5-speed 26" rear wheel, a derailleur, braided steel cable, and hand lever (to replace the trashed 3-speed rear wheel/hub on my bike) from a friend for a total of $5.

Neither's vocalises are rhythmically complex, but stay pretty darn "busy". Marchesi's being the busier of the two composers'.

Does anyone still use this book? I'm seeing that it's still available for $37.

WIth a $3 original price, inflation calculators put it at $19, so (I suppose) $5 for the book + restored mobility was somewhat of a bargain.

[Three Valves]

I sold a similar edition for $10.

I read thru it a few times and wasn't feeling it.

...also about the 60 Musical Studies Vol/Book I (Kuehn) in case you didn't look up the description;

Brass, Tuba - Grade 3
Tuba. Composed by Mathilde Marchesi and Giuseppe Concone. Arranged by David Kuehn. Brass Solos & Ensembles - Tuba Methods/Studies. Southern Music. Instruction. Softcover. 24 pages. Southern Music Company #B247. Published by Southern Music Company (HL.3770347).

[bloke]

I'm going to finish reading them, and then put it back in the file cabinet.

Reading anything (with FatBastard) strengthens my B-flat reading skills.

good phraseology: "not feeling it"...exactly.

[acemorgan]

Seeing the word Marchesi in print, reminded me of when I was a vocal music major many decades ago. The Marchesi book was not quite on the level of, say, the Arban for brass players, but close.

I think I still have a copy of it somewhere. Your post made me think about using it as a resource for my euphonium work, since I play the euph in treble these days. I might also try it with my Eb tubas, because, well why not? In a practice session, I will often go back and forth, playing the same treble passages in both instruments, trying to coax my euphonium upper range.

I while I am in mode, maybe I'll dig out my German lieder book, as well. Those pieces are easily as useful for lyrical phrasing as the Bordogni collection.

[Jperry1466]

Still have my copy. Revisit it occasionally but not often. I got to study privately on Saturdays with David Kuehn in the early 70s when I was an undergrad at another university. He was a fine teacher and had a unique but very effective way of motivating. He's still living out in California. Still have my original copy of the Bill Bell warmups. I think my edition has a copyright date from the 50s.

[bloke]

I'm veering off of my own topic, but I finally gave that "low etudes" book a go.

It's interesting how it doesn't just stay in the low range but stays mostly in the middle range and then dips down to the low range. It's neither a thrilling nor exhilarating book, but guess what: My low range on the really big tuba is just a tad better, and the double low C - with all of those valves down on this really large bore large body B-flat is now coming out easily. (That's the pitch with 5, 2, 3, & 4 depressed and with some slide pulled out a few inches for good intonation.)