Great Youtube video - La Corsaire w/Halle orchestra

[bilmac]

I think thats the greeeeeeeeeeeat Stuart Roebuck playing a Barlow F tuba so what you're hearing is British tuba playing at very best---top A flat notwithstanding. Roebuck was a truly stupendous player and a great teacher. A quiet man but an hilarious mimic and storyteller. I had the great good fortune to have some lessons from him and was lucky enough to become a friend. I still treasure my tattered Blazewich (sp?) studies with his breath marks and comments on them after 30 plus years. Roebuck played the Barlow despite previous incumbents at the Halle having rejected it because of the tuning but as you can hear it is as clean and clear as a whistle.
That was a killer section in the Halle in those days .The section leader of the Trombones was Terry Nagle who was a demon player and thats probably a young Nev Roberts on Bass but i can't be sure.
Listen again just how good that section was---brilliant in its proper sense with real clarity. We've lost something since those days with too many sections making too much uncertain noise. Its what John Fletcher used to say--its no good shouting "I love you". Its all in way you say it!
Bilmac--in thrall to some great old fashioned playing.

[bilmac]

Mike --wasn't absolutely sure but the height of the top branch and what appears to be the funny way that the pipe work runs at the front of the instrument led me to Stuart. At a guess it looks mid 60's which would be right for Stuart.
Great photo though. Thats how I remember him. Not very tall but barrel chested. Some player!
Bilmac