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I hear it both ways all the time. You are the principal tuba player for an orchestra. I say your title is Principal Tubist. But, a lot of people say Principal Tuba. Tell us what you think and why.

I would say that depends on its usage.

TubaRay wrote:I would say that depends on its usage.

Well, to muddy the waters further. I almost never hear a trumpet player referred to as a Principal Trumpeter. The norm seems to be Principal Trumpet.

Mark wrote:

TubaRay wrote:I would say that depends on its usage.

Well, to muddy the waters further. I almost never hear a trumpet player referred to as a Principal Trumpeter. The norm seems to be Principal Trumpet.

Good point! In fact, an excellent one.

If it is a titled position, your title is "Principal Tuba", just as the "Principal Viola", (only a lot more musical).

YOU can be either the "Principal Tuba" or the "Principal Tubist", but the distinction is one of usage. The title remains the same (just as a Principal Viola can be the Principal Violist, even though it doesn't really matter which viola you hit with the paper airplane).

But you also never hear of a Principal Percussion or Principal Timpani either, no?

Charlie Goodman wrote:But you also never hear of a Principal Percussion or Principal Timpani either, no?

No. Yes. I think I'm confused.

Mark wrote:

Charlie Goodman wrote:But you also never hear of a Principal Percussion or Principal Timpani either, no?

No. Yes. I think I'm confused.

I know what you mean. A mind is a terrible thing!

I have been known to style myself "Principal Tuba, by default" as I am the one and only in our little town band.

http://www.basstrombone.nl/forum/viewto ... 1&start=30


Want to open an even bigger can of worms? Click and scroll down to Doug Yeo's posts on page three.

Dan

Not to hijack the thread or anything (which is exactly what I'm doing), but I have quite concerned lately by the prevalence of the term "tubaist". I think we are all in agreement that it should be "tubist" (just like violist and pianist). Yet people seldom make that mistake with those instruments (although I have known a number of accompany-ists in my day). m

Jonathantuba wrote:I have always been rather amused by this term of Principal Tuba, or Tubist - how can you have a principal in a section of one?

That's not the point. According to every contract I've seen, "titled" positions are treated differently than section players, so it's not a matter of rhetoric, but one of responsibility and pay (and yes, you're leading from the bottom, just as the principal trumpet leads from the top, so you better be prepared, know your &$%# and the works, and you want to get renumerated for all the extra time you put in!).

jlbreyer wrote:I have been known to style myself "Principal Tuba, by default" as I am the one and only in our little town band.

Sounds only right to me.

I don't care what you call me as long as my paycheck makes it thru the bank.
Dennis Gray
principal fart-hornist,
for John Reno and the Half-Fast Creekers
www.johnreno.com/

Stefan Kac wrote:(although I have known a number of accompany-ists in my day)

I have been INFORMED that they now prefer to be known as "Collaborative Pianists" (makes me think of Vichy France, though... )

Stefan Kac wrote:
[Not to hijack the thread or anything (which is exactly what I'm doing), but I have quite concerned lately by the prevalence of the term "tubaist". I think we are all in agreement that it should be "tubist" (just like violist and pianist). Yet people seldom make that mistake with those instruments (although I have known a number of accompany-ists in my day).

Interesting, it may be just me, but ALL of us are not in agreement, I play the tuba not the tub, so that makes me a tubaist, 2 of my friends comment a bunch that they don't play the flaut, and cannot be flautist's. Peace. ASG

Jonathantuba wrote:I much prefer the term Solo Tuba - in that the tubist is the only one in the orchestra. Other people understand that.

Solo Tuba makes me think that you will only be playing solos with the orchestra.

ArnoldGottlieb wrote:... 2 of my friends comment a bunch that they don't play the flaut, and cannot be flautist's.

In that instance, "flattist" might be more apropos (as distinct from "flatist", which would have something to do with "flatus" ... which would be us (see Tubatooter's post above))

Mark wrote:

Jonathantuba wrote:I much prefer the term Solo Tuba - in that the tubist is the only one in the orchestra. Other people understand that.

Solo Tuba makes me think that you will only be playing solos with the orchestra.

With a BAT would you be playing so-lows with the orchestra?

Mark wrote:I hear it both ways all the time. You are the principal tuba player for an orchestra. I say your title is Principal Tubist. But, a lot of people say Principal Tuba. Tell us what you think and why.

I voted Principal Tuba, for the reason that the title describes the position not the person. "Mr. Wind S. Bug was held the Principal Tuba chair in the Delaware Symphony." When you see it in print, it's always "W. S. Bug, Principal Tuba" with a comma, or "principal tubist W. S. Bug" when used in a sentence.

I've seen the same usage for all the other instruments in an orchestra, too.

Rick "who thinks everyone will know what you mean" Denney