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I've looked through the archives, and can't find any info on this, so I'll go ahead and ask. Does anyone know who the 4 tuba players were for the original soundtrack to the 1951 movie "The Day the Earth Stood Still"? That's right, the soundtrack supposedly used 4 tubas. The instrumentation of the score was very interesting, and the music itself is great. Thanks, and any info would be appreciated.

Aaron H.

I think this must be the first recorded tuba ensemble, but I think it's a trio. This performance pre-dates the recorded Hoffnung Festival quartet which, I think was in 1956. The original "Earth Stood Still" was released in 1951.

Well, I just researched: the music was written by Bernard Herrmann and he did use four tubas. The score is for zero horns, 3 tpts., 3 trbs. and 4 tubas.



God knows where they got 3 or 4 tuba players in those days but...

Jean Luc Ponte, jazz violinist, was fined by the musicians union for calling every tuba player in the Lon Angeles union roster and booking them for a job with instructions to be at the corner of two streets across from his hotel. He supposedly laughed hysterically at the sight of a bunch of guys with tubas walking up and down the sidewalk looking for a gig. They all got paid.

One of the tubas on the score would have been Clarence Karella, Fox staff tubaist.

Alex C wrote:
Jean Luc Ponte, jazz violinist, was fined by the musicians union for calling every tuba player in the Lon Angeles union roster and booking them for a job with instructions to be at the corner of two streets across from his hotel. He supposedly laughed hysterically at the sight of a bunch of guys with tubas walking up and down the sidewalk looking for a gig. They all got paid.

Actually it was jazz violinist Joe Venuti that pulled this stunt.

Here's a link to the details, it's on page 284. Very funny
http://books.google.com/books?id=vQAcHP ... #PPA284,M1" target="_blank"
Norm Pearson

my favorite Venuti story, though, is the "Barnacle Bill the Shithead" recording. Priceless.