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I want to know some characteristics of what kind of horns make good ensemble horns, good orchestra horns, good solo horns, etc.

What types of things would I be looking for?

PWtuba wrote:I want to know some characteristics of what kind of horns make good ensemble horns, good orchestra horns, good solo horns, etc.

What types of things would I be looking for?

I would say that for ensemble playing in a band what you are looking for is to provide a good broad bass foundation sound which supports rather than cuts through the ensemble. For orchestra I look for a more colorful and distinctive tuba tone. While for solo work a clearer more cutting tone is what is required to project to the audience.

In actual fact a lot of these differences you can made by adjusting your playing style, or changing mouthpieces.

(adjusted to avoid copyright snooping and censorship)

Curliey: Do you know what the secret of finding a tuba is?
[holds up one finger]
Curliey: This.
Mitch: Your finger?
Curliey: One thing. Just one thing. You stick to that and the rest don't mean shyte.
Mitch: But, what is the "one thing?"
Curliey: [smiles] That's what *you* have to find out.