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Regional and Allstate "symphonic bands" in high school had 6 tubas, the "wind ensembles" had two. I was in my share of each and must say I usually preferred the two tuba sound. While you can tune 6 non-pro tubas to play Bb's in tune, many other notes come out sounding with a very substantial "vibrato" of intonation differences. The end result often muddies rather then reincofces the bass line. The only exception was Reed's "Russian Christmas Music" where just the sheer amount of sound on the last section made up for tuning issues.

As for the "taking everything down" part, while you may think that is cool, the end result usually sounds like CRAP. Save it for one, maybe two players only and at prominent cadence points. Unless you just want to be selfish and make the whole tuba section sound bad.

22 at California State University at Long Beach in the fall of 1977.

Does Tuba Christmas count?

7-uga janfest

1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles ..... I played in the marching band for the opening ceremonies... there were 48 tubas (sousaphones, actually).

Barney wrote:1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles ..... I played in the marching band for the opening ceremonies... there were 48 tubas (sousaphones, actually).

That makes two of us in a band of 748. Cameron and I also played in the Liberty band in 1986 with only forty.

at Sam Houston we usually used 5 to 6 in the Symphonic band which had anywhere from 113 to 133 in the band depending on what big orchestral transcription we were doing. we did the Pines with around 132 and 6 tubas, 6 tenor bones, 2 bass bones, 4 euphs, 8 honrs and 26 trumpets... we got a 25 min standing ovation and we split the brass at the end and played from the back of the auditorium. we all marched off and they kept the back row open so we could stand and play bells front for the beig ending. my last year at Sam and my last TMEA

it was a blast

16 in marching band, but I talked the wind ensemble director into only using one (myself), which was not only great prep for an actual symphony gig, but hugely pissed off the college orchestra conductor, who was used to getting the "top" instrumentalists...

(which I highly recommend, 'cause a lot of what you do in orchestra is count rests, THEN play your a@@ off, IF the strings are up to it... )

I went to an honor band and there was 12 tubas. The funny thing was that there was only like 2 euphs and 5 trombones. Oh and one of the tuba players forgot his tuba and was asking around if anyone had an extra tuba he could use

At the Univ. of Central Arkansas we currently have 18 and we're expecting over 20 next year.

MartyNeilan wrote:Regional and Allstate "symphonic bands" in high school had 6 tubas, the "wind ensembles" had two. I was in my share of each and must say I usually preferred the two tuba sound. While you can tune 6 non-pro tubas to play Bb's in tune, many other notes come out sounding with a very substantial "vibrato" of intonation differences. The end result often muddies rather then reincofces the bass line. The only exception was Reed's "Russian Christmas Music" where just the sheer amount of sound on the last section made up for tuning issues.

As for the "taking everything down" part, while you may think that is cool, the end result usually sounds like CRAP. Save it for one, maybe two players only and at prominent cadence points. Unless you just want to be selfish and make the whole tuba section sound bad.

Ditto your opinions, here.

just 4 lol at westman honour band, im sure provincial (state) band will have more.

ai698 wrote:

Barney wrote:1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles ..... I played in the marching band for the opening ceremonies... there were 48 tubas (sousaphones, actually).

That makes two of us in a band of 748. Cameron and I also played in the Liberty band in 1986 with only forty.

Right you are Steve. That was a great summer. What a sound that band made. Weren't there 76 bones and 100 trumpets? Very light on the woodwinds - that was nice.

I know Dennis Askew was also in that band, are there any others you can think of? I remember one guy that was in the same squad (of 4) that I was named Tom McComb (sp). Anyone know where he is now? He was from Illinois and could play the stew out of the sousaphone.

It is a shame that more people cannot have the experience we had with the monster college bands full of players from all over the country. I can't even begin to think of a situation now with security and budget issues that a band like that will ever be formed again.

It was much different than any college band: all meat, no ringers. I have never heard a college band come close to the sound of those groups.

Cameron Gates wrote:

ai698 wrote:

Barney wrote:1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles ..... I played in the marching band for the opening ceremonies... there were 48 tubas (sousaphones, actually).

That makes two of us in a band of 748. Cameron and I also played in the Liberty band in 1986 with only forty.

Right you are Steve. That was a great summer. What a sound that band made. Weren't there 76 bones and 100 trumpets? Very light on the woodwinds - that was nice.

I know Dennis Askew was also in that band, are there any others you can think of? I remember one guy that was in the same squad (of 4) that I was named Tom McComb (sp). Anyone know where he is now? He was from Illinois and could play the stew out of the sousaphone.

It is a shame that more people cannot have the experience we had with the monster college bands full of players from all over the country. I can't even begin to think of a situation now with security and budget issues that a band like that will ever be formed again.

It was much different than any college band: all meat, no ringers. I have never heard a college band come close to the sound of those groups.

Don't forget meeting Debbie Allen and Gregory Peck on the ferry to Gov. Island.

I wish I had a list of all the members of the Olympic and Liberty band. Heck, I wish I still had a video of the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. I lost mine about 20 years ago.

Oh, and for the Olympic band types- Brad McDavid (BD at U of Washington, former i dotter at Ohio State) wanted to have a reunion for the 2004 Summer Games. Don't know if it happened or not.

We still have time for the 1986 Liberty Band 2006 reunion at William Patterson College

8 Cadet Tatoo band 2000

or heavy metal tour w/ John Griffiths in Winnipeg 2002... aboot 50

Back in June of 1977 at a massed bands concert in the Royal Albert Hall for the Queens' Silver Jubilee;

Black Dyke, Fairey, Fodens, Hanwell & Morris Motors, conducted by Harry Mortimer & Walter Susskind.

So 20 basses, 10 E flat & 10 B flat.

CB

The most I've ever played with was 11 not including myself in high school.

Ralph

I have no idea -- it was somewhere between 70 and 90-something in a massed performance of the national anthems at a DCI Finals. There was also probably 40 or 50 of us in a DCM/DCE/DCA/DC Quebec "All Star" corps that marched Macy's in '91. NBC had learned from a previous extra-large corps broadcast (Orange Bowl parade in '89) that they needed high-SPL microphones that wouldn't break because of our sound levels. 450+ drum corps brass can put out a LOT of noise.