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I have Bartok Concerto for Orchestra coming up in a gig and have just been looking at the part and listening to recordings.

Being written for the Boston Symphony in 1944, I was thinking to play on my 6/4 CC, but now believe it would benefit from a rather lighter tone for the nature of this largely dance-like work and am planning on using my Melton Eb (which is also quite capable of producing a big sound when required!).

I just wondered what sort of tuba would have been played in Boston in 1944?

Of course an F tuba would probably have been usual in his native Hungary at that time anyway and might have been what Bartok had in mind?

Hi Jonathan,

I think that would be Kilton Vinal Smith, who apparently played his entire career on a Kruspe F tuba.

I have played this work many times on both CC and Eb, and I think it works best on a large Eb. My Willson 3400 puts out plenty of sound when needed and is able to match the horns in the chorale better than a 6/4 CC. I suspect your Melton would be a great fit.

All the best,

Cam

Thanks Cam!

That is interesting about an F tuba in Boston then and nice to know you find the Bartok works well on Eb

All the best,
Jonathan "who is looking forward to playing Concerto for Orchestra"

My advice is to play it on the tuba that sounds best with your low brass section and orchestra (you make the call). Remember that instruments and styles have changed even since 1944. Also, I used a CC for this one.

best,
Mark

Mark's advice is good. Use the tuba that works the best with your section. I have performed the piece successfully on a large Eb tuba. However, a CC tuba works equally as well.

Eugene Adam was the Principal tubist in the BSO until 1947. While there are pictures of him holding a contrabass tuba, his main instrument was a Kruspe F (the one later used by Kilton Smith) however I'm not sure what he used on the premiere of the Bartok Concerto for Orchestra.