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I would use my Eb Imperial - a good compromise between what the score calls for and a little added heft... That said, I'd want to use a German F, but I saddly do not own one...

J.c.S.

I have played the 6th once with my Melton Eb and once with my Neptune CC. The Eb does work, but the CC is no doubt better IMHO. I received much better feedback from the rest of the orchestra playing the larger tuba.

For the 9th, I went to a concert of the Munich Philharmonic while on holiday in Germany last year expecting to hear it with F tuba, but instead a 6/4 CC was used - it sounded great

Whatever sounds best.

I don't remember what the part for the 8th says...what about that one, which horn??

eupher61 wrote:I don't remember what the part for the 8th says...what about that one, which horn??

The part says Basstuba, although the tessitura is much more representive of a Contrabass, fourth space G to F four ledger lines below. Although the solo at figure 78 of mvt. 1 has potential to sound amazing on either a Basstuba or a Contrabass. Do what feels right.

tubashaman wrote:sorry 4 or 8 arent on the classics CD

Use the biggest tuba you have on Mahler 4. And play as loud as humanly possible - Mahler would have wanted it that way.

MartyNeilan wrote:

tubashaman wrote:sorry 4 or 8 arent on the classics CD

Use the biggest tuba you have on Mahler 4. And play as loud as humanly possible - Mahler would have wanted it that way.

Actually, I have an old LP of an orchestra in Europe performing Mahler's 4th, and I have heard rumor that they may have doubled the tuba part, just to give it the power that it demands. It sounds truly amazing. I want to perform that symphony so bad, it hurts!

Yes. With Mahler 4, it's a question of balance. The trombones are so loud on those big, open chords in the first movement that a BAT is the only thing appropriate for the music. Fun stuff!

I would argue that you can play just as loud or louder on a smaller instrument. What matters is the sound quality - volume comes from the quality of the player and the quality of the instrument...

J.c.S.

J.c. Sherman wrote:I would argue that you can play just as loud or louder on a smaller instrument. What matters is the sound quality - volume comes from the quality of the player and the quality of the instrument...

I agree that a bass tuba can produce a loud sound, so the deciding factor of which to use is the desired tone.