the inevitable equipment ?s

[MikeMason]

I think I recall quite a bit of subbing going on the year before the audition.Maybe that was the real audition....or at least an important part of it.

[Shockwave]

While this is a little off-topic, I'll bite.

I've been hearing this type of tuba tone more and more recently. I don't want to make comments about Ms Jantsch or anyone else's personal sound, but I don't personally like where the tuba world seems to be going. In my head, I have Jacobs, Bell, Schmitz, Bishop, Fletcher all singing away as I play. It's these dark, rich, warm sounds that inspired me to play the tuba. The more 'soloistic' sounds made by very fine musicians don't appeal to me in anyway. I wonder why more and more players are going down that route, and why some orchestras are preferring that more transparent tone.

Robert I. Coulter

Tubas play easy parts, and traditionally the challenge has been in tone production where a tuba has to support an ensemble from the bottom. Now there are very easy playing but ugly sounding horns on the market, and players put a lot of effort into playing ridiculously difficult technical music without giving a thought to tone. The tuba was not invented because someone wanted a really really big instrument that could play cornet solos.

Somehow I suspect the lack of emphasis on tone is related to the CC/F cargo cult, but I'm not sure who is responsible. I've noticed that every tuba player I've heard with "that sound" has been a steadfast CC/F player.

-Eric

[WoodSheddin]

I've noticed that every tuba player I've heard with "that sound" has been a steadfast CC/F player.

-Eric

I assume you live in the United States then. This is tradition here.

[windshieldbug]

If ANYONE had ANY reservations about Ms. Jantsch's abilities in this area, they would not have chosen her. Do you seriously think that the Committee AND the Orchestra wants to go through this whole thing again, next year!?

[Alex C]

for what it's worth...i had a conversation with a good friend of mine from england who commented that john fletcher was not necessarily the best tuba player, but was an outstanding musician. thus, his legacy is huge.

There are few, if any, tubists with more technique than John Fletcher. Personally, I have heard no tubist (even from the UK!) who was "better." I surely do not understand the attitude that he was not necessarily the best player.

When I played the first PJBE recording for Arnold Jacobs he said, "It's easy to see that Fletcher is the best player in the group." High praise for Fletcher, surrounded by a distinguished ensemble, from another great musician.

I also don't understand the CJ putdowns I've been reading in this thread. Posting your rant doesn't make you a better player.

I'm sure that Mr. Jacobs would have been thrilled to hear Carol's playing. She's a marvelous musician with a terrific sound and that's something that always got him energized.

Carol does have one problem, the same one Bud Herseth had: she will never get a better job (on tuba). Poor girl.