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Well this season with the Richmond Youth Symphony Orchestra we're playing Bydlo. I was wondering if anyone had a copy they could email me, because I need to have a head start it looks like I'm playing on Bubba (my Miraphone 186 5u BBb) or have any advice on how to play it.

Thanks

Doug Black

tubadude@aldelphia.net

Do you know when you will be performing "Pictures" yet, and where? As a Richmond area resident I think it would be interesting to see the Richmond Youth Symphony. Come to musical Monday's at Maymont on August 30th and you can see me with the Richmond concert band.

Thats what I suggusted to the director, that we use a Euph. player, but they want it on tuba. And I dont know the date of the performance ,but i do know it's a side-by-side concert with another youth orchestra so it will be in the Virginia Beach area we have to go to them this time, because last season they came to us to play the planets.

PhilW. wrote:Did he want a tuba or a tuba player?

Everybody with the slightest knowledge about orchestral history would know, that Ravel wrote the part for a smallish C tuba pitched one step above the modern euphonium.

I have already written on the dangers of choosing a too large instrument for this excerpt:

viewtopic.php?t=2080&postdays=0&postord ... s&start=36

Please go to the 3rd Elvis from the top of the page.

Klaus

Nothing theoretical about Ab Minor, Joe, it is the relative minor to Cb Major, and given about 30 minutes I could probably come up with one peice in the key. It is however, a STOOOOPID key.

To the original poster. See if you can find a guy named Tom McGrady living in the Richmond area. He has an old 3 valve(yes that's right) Dehmahl that he played Bydlo on and nailed it. I think he may still have the horn. If not start checking with Pete DuBeau over in Norfolk(VA Symphony) or give a shout to Rich Serpa in the Richmond S.O. If they can't help you, maybe they can talk some sense into your director. It really should never be performed on a tuba(IMHO), although I know lots of guys who can, just doesn't fit the nature of the piece. Good Luck.

Chuck

I'm sure he'll clarify if I'm wrong but I think Joe was referring to the enharmonic nature of the spelling of Ab minor. Actually written, the piece is in G# minor. Maybe it's somewhat counter-intuitive to realize that this is a pretty good key for an Eb tuba.

My opinion for what it's worth...

I've always heard that bydlo was written for a small c tuba one step above today's Bflat Euphonium. My question is, was the rest the piece's tuba part written for that same instrument? There are a few low, loud passages that I would think would sound pretty bad on such a small instrument.

joebob wrote:I've always heard that bydlo was written for a small c tuba one step above today's Bflat Euphonium. My question is, was the rest the piece's tuba part written for that same instrument? There are a few low, loud passages that I would think would sound pretty bad on such a small instrument.

The little 6-valve French C orchestra tuba was in use when Ravel wrote his orchestration. (OTOH, the tuba in use when Berlioz wrote for same was a little E flat, barely larger than a modern euphonium).

But "loud" is something that's changed a lot since then. Orchestras back then didn't use the big-bore heavy-duty brass that they now do. In general, the sound was a lot lighter than what we now have. A French C probably would have worked very well.

I had posted a while back about a DVD with the French Radio Symphony Orchestra in a performance from 1960. They played Pictures and the tuba player used a 6 valve French Tuba. Although the sound wasn't as broad as a big instrument on the low stuff, it was very present and sounded great. Bydlo was the best I have heard it in a long time, nice and full and with a great sound.

Mind you, this is a great testament to a particular sound and interpretation. This film was made before the mass homogenization of orchestral sound. I, for one, don't mind the vibrato heavy brass or nasal winds because that's the way it was. I don't think the pastuerization of orchestral sound is a %100 good thing, but c'est la vie.

If any one is interested I will look up the info for the DVD. Andre Cluytens conducts, mostly for the camera(actually looks like he is trying to pick up the camera people, hope they were women, but don't ask don't tell). He is actually a well regarded if somewhat overlooked conductor.

Chuck

It it the recording that also has the Tchaikovsky piano concerto & Ravel Daphnis et Chloe suite no. 2, with pianist Gilels?

One and the same. Did you like it?

Chuck

Actually, I just found it on the internet and was interested in ordering it -----I'll lket you know when I get it!

Douglas wrote:Well this season with the Richmond Youth Symphony Orchestra we're playing Bydlo. I was wondering if anyone had a copy they could email me, because I need to have a head start it looks like I'm playing on Bubba (my Miraphone 186 5u BBb) or have any advice on how to play it.

I usually use my 10/4 Bat-Outta-Hell-o-phone with a 45DD Plastic/aluminum mouthpiece, recording bell turned forward with a pillow shoved in it.

Sorry -- couldn't resist!

Good luck on the performance!

I have an out-of-production Warburton-made Canadian Brass B1 so-called bass trombone mouthpiece that I use on it for "tenor tuba" stuff...It looks (inside and out) like a "miniature Helleberg" mouthpiece (funnel cup / flat rim).

Do you have any photos of this, Joe? Maybe by a big MP for scale.

Doug "picture freak"

I performed it on Tommy Johnson's Bb four rotary valve tenor tuba. I wish I could remember the maker. I believe Norm Pearson also borrows it form time to time for pictures. I think that it is completely acceptable to play the solo on a single tuba or euphonium, but rotary valves are ideal.