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After doing the 26K race on Friday, spent the better part of Saturday playing my tuba for the trail runners doing the 50K at the Mammoth Trail Festival. We were at the peak cheering on the racers at 11,053 feet (3369 M). Definitely noticed I needed a few more breaths!

Is that the world record for height for a York 33?

arpthark wrote: ↑Wed Sep 27, 2023 12:03 pm Is that the world record for height for a York 33?

Yes, it's in the book.

Many years ago, I carried my Melton 46 as far as they´ll let you go up the Ulmer Münster (768 stair steps) to play chorales from the tower at 142 m above the ground.
Will that count?

I did one or two jazz festivals in Denver - probably 40 years ago. Matt goes out to Aspen every summer. I would predict that both of those are going to be easy to beat, particularly if remuneration is not a requirement.

How about the lowest elevation? I've also did a string of jazz festivals one summer in Holland.

Tubeast wrote: ↑Thu Sep 28, 2023 1:24 am Many years ago, I carried my Melton 46 as far as they´ll let you go up the Ulmer Münster (768 stair steps) to play chorales from the tower at 142 m above the ground.
Will that count?

This is much more impressive than riding the elevator to the top of the University of Texas clock tower (total elevation: maybe 700 feet above sea level) to play Christmas songs.

I could drive up to Mt. Washington in New Hampshire, but that is still only about 6288' (1916.6 meters).

I've performed at the Tabor Opera House in Leadville, Colorado, 10,158 feet with the Denver Concert Band several times on both my Kanstul 33
and my Besson 967.

Every July 4th (we missed a couple recently) there is a silly little parade in the town of Summerhaven which is at 8000' on Mt. Lemmon, 45 minutes straight up from my house. A portion of the Tucson Concert Band goes up there and plays marches before, SSB, and sometimes S&S after. I haven't noticed anything, but I do better in general at altitude than I do lower down. Playing off beats on the horn for 40 minutes is not going to tell you anything about your air supply, anyway, just your sanity.

The Rollinsville (Colorado) Stage Stop is a grand old 155 year old venue above Denver, elevation is 8671'



it is a lot of fun to play there since they quit throwing bottles at the stage a few years ago

Not mentioning names, but I've heard with good authority that some tuba players often play while high.
Ace

Didn't Wayne post some photo of him with a little Yamaha way up high somewhere? Pikes Peak? @Schlepporello...?

bort2.0 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 6:49 pm Didn't Wayne post some photo of him with a little Yamaha way up high somewhere? Pikes Peak? @Schlepporello...?

At least I'm famous for something. Yes, I played the Yamaha YBB-103 that I once owned at the summit of Pikes Peak (elev. 14,400 ft?).

arpthark wrote: ↑Thu Sep 28, 2023 8:39 am I could drive up to Mt. Washington in New Hampshire, but that is still only about 6288' (1916.6 meters).

Ha! My front porch is 6200’

Just reminds me of the time an astronaut snuck his saxophone on the International Space Station
https://youtu.be/xVzmHlBG6BI?si=Isy_gX2lTOfUrhKy

What a great photo!!

I stood up and played at a Whit Friday style presentation at the British American Foundation Gala in Houston. I normally don’t like being that elevated. Sitting is preferable.

Ok, seriously…

I’ve played in Alpine, TX, about 4500’ elev. At lesser and similar elevations around southern Germany.

I played strolling jazz at the Alaska State Fair about a decade ago, no idea on the altitude though. Miraphone 1281 F tuba with a rifle strap I bought at the outdoor shop across the street from the hotel. I actually played that same setup on TV once, I had almost every tune memorized so didn't bring a stand with me. It was quite the contrast with 6'10" Bob playing an F tuba next to 5'10" Mark with a PT6.

On the top of Roan Mountain...like 6k feet? I parked towards the base of the mountain, at the ranger station and amenities, then hiked up, which was a few miles each way. Imagine the frustration when I found out there was a parking area MUCH closer to the summit.

It was unseasonably warm in the Appalachians last year, like mid-80s. Walking through the forest was thick and humid, and not what I expected when visiting from Florida. As soon as I hit the summit it was an amazing low 60s and horribly overcast (it was sprinkling the entire hike), then the clouds opened up the second I walked onto the overlook.

Found some college kids who took a few videos of me playing. I learned while doing this how much of that "echo" is done in post on most of these videos, because the sound ways WAY drier than I thought it'd be.