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romantic era orchestral music and the 3-valve BASS tuba
Posted: Sat May 01, 2021 9:17 pm
by bloke
Quite a bit of romantic-era (and even late romantic, such as Bartók) was apparently scored with that assumption that a tuba player probably would only have access to a 3-valve F or 3-valve E-flat tuba - with the lowest written pitch (in many works) being either B-natural or A below the staff.
Recall and list specific works - in this thread - that support this observation...
I'll start with two:
Since I mentioned Bartók - Concerto for Orchestra (playable on 3-valve F tuba)
...and I'll add one more: Rimsky Korsakov - Scheherazade (playable on 3-valve E-flat tuba)
Re: romantic era orchestral music and the 3-valve BASS tuba
Posted: Sun May 02, 2021 12:13 am
by Yorkboy
Absolutely:
Die Meistersinger Overture - lowest note = A1 (2nd & 4th measure) highest note = C4
Franck D minor Symphony - lowest note = A1, highest note D4
(I’ve played both pieces on a 5 valve E flat tuba, although both are well within the range of a 3 valve horn)
Strauss - Don Juan - lowest note = A1, highest note = E3
Possibly:
Verdi - La Forza Del Destino overture - lowest note = C2, highest note = B4
(originally cimbasso, probably in F, does that count?)
Berlioz - Romeo and Juliet Symphony - lowest note = B1, highest note = F#4) F tuba
(probably written originally for ophecleide, but edited later by Berlioz for tuba....?)
Re: romantic era orchestral music and the 3-valve BASS tuba
Posted: Sun May 02, 2021 2:44 am
by Snake Charmer
The C. Franck d minor symphony was written for the French C Tuba...
Re: romantic era orchestral music and the 3-valve BASS tuba
Posted: Mon May 03, 2021 6:22 pm
by Bob Kolada
The biggest problem I see with playing Meistersingers on a 3 valve Eb is juggling slides between pulling for 123 E and doing what you can to get that second valve D in tune. Some horns are fine, some are awful. The small Conn's I've had have had no problems with open Eb and 2nd valve D. The Giants are something else!