Franck D Minor Symphony

Wyvern · Post by **Wyvern** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 6:19 pm

Most likely was a small French C, but it is quite playable on an Eb (or F I presume).

Nice symphony!

Alex C · Post by **Alex C** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 8:03 pm

CSO recorded it under Pierre Montreux with Jacobs using the York and it sounded marvelous.

I don't understand the trend of trying to "recapture" the composers original intent for the tuba when no other section in the orchestra is doing it. (The few "period instrument" orchestras excluded.)

Strings play... like strings. They don't use cat gut strings to get the original sound of the 18th century, they don't even use the portamento that was still popular in the early part of the 20th century.

I could sight almost every section in most orchestras, but to get close to home: Rarely will you see an American trombone section use anything smaller than a Bach 36B (except for the rare alto trombone performance).

My question would be, why destroy the balance the composer intended to get an "authentic" sound... when no one else is pretending to be authentic?"

And cimbasso's (cimbassi)!!! Please shoot me!

Except for the entertainment value it needs to be outlawed. History has already decreed it. It had faded into a well deserved obscurity until Lew Waldeck (May he rest in peace) started playing one in the New York City Opera Orchestra in the 1960's because he was bored. I liked Lew but I think this may be his fault. I'm going to start thinking about blaming other people too. There's enough to go around.

Of course, now Jim Self will record an album of cimbasso solos with important historical pieces by Verdi (newly discovered) and brilliant new compositions by Broughton and Corigliano along with some jazz pieces which probe the psyche of mankind which will, in turn make universities create Master of Performance in Cimbasso degrees and this lucid, rational and considered epistle will be flamed by bad fortune.

Thinking about cimbasso will make you kind of dark.

MikeMason · Post by **MikeMason** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 12:08 am

Re:Pictures-everything but Bydlo-definitely large contrabass tuba.I don't care about history.Just what the piece demands.All that low loud stuff,then the Great Gates.No doubt...

MartyNeilan · Post by **MartyNeilan** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 2:17 am

The only time I actually performed this piece was on a Mirafone 190. The higher notes were not a problem on that horn, and the lyrical lines really sang out. It did not seem out of place at the time; but being older and wiser (

) I may not make that choice again.

Biggs · Post by **Biggs** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 2:22 am

Bob1062 wrote: Most C tubas (to ME) sound like bloated Eb's

Take that, vast majority of American professional tubists!

In all seriousness though, how do you arrive at the conclusion that CC tubas sound different from tubas pitched otherwise? If Gene Pokorny played identical passages on a 186 CC and 186 BBb, could you tell the difference? Could any of us? What, exactly, does a "bloated Eb" sound like? Do CC tubas have that sound only when you play them, or are all tubists affected by this sonic disorder? I'm sure that individuals like Alan Baer and Carol Jantsch would be sorry to hear about how they sound so bloated. Did you ever stop to consider the possibility that your ability and experience (which, like mine, is limited) are not representative of the population of tubas and those who play them?

Bob, I believe your enthusiasm to be earnest but your naivety is showing. Take a step back and do not attempt to revolutionize the art of tuba operation without first mastering it. Please note that this involves more than pedal tones, multiphonics, Tubenet posting, and other parlor tricks.

LoyalTubist · Post by **LoyalTubist** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 2:23 am

The tessitura of the D Minor Symphony is comfortable enough that I always used a big CC tuba for it. It works fine. There's only a couple of high toots which must be perfect every time. The last time I played it, the conductor specified that I use a big CC or BBb tuba for the part.

Alex C · Post by **Alex C** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 11:14 am

BGII wrote: After a live concert in Royal Festival Hall (Mahler under Abbado, as I recall), "Fletch" asked me if I thought he stuck out too much. I had to be truthful and say yes.

Sacrilege! Turn in your Tuba Player's Card. I'm surprised Fletcher didn't ask for it himself.

Wyvern · Post by **Wyvern** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 2:09 pm

BGII wrote:"Fletch" asked me if I thought he stuck out too much. I had to be truthful and say yes.

You mean to say a tuba can stick out too much!

peter birch · Post by **peter birch** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 2:34 pm

Neptune wrote:Most likely was a small French C, but it is quite playable on an Eb (or F I presume).

Nice symphony!

I have been playing this with the "cobwebs" orchestra in newcastle, using a EEb, and it works well.
Someone said that orchestral tuba parts are either so easy that anyone can play them or so difficult that no-one can play them, this symphony is nicely balanced, especially with the big tune in the 3rd movement at ff.