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My tuba quartet has been playing outdoors the last two weekends and will again this Saturday. Our town is Leavenworth WA, and we have a Bavarian-theme, (http://www.leavenworth.org" target="_blank" target="_blank.) We play two Cerveny four rotary valve euphs, an American baritone (this player just bought a Miraphone four rotary valve euph,) and I play either my Yamaha 621S or Miraphone 186. The temps have been around 15F to 25F.
I'd like to offer some observations regarding playing when its cold:
First, intonation really sucks at these temperatures. Thats a big problem for us as players, but not so much for the folks that listen. (I operate under the assumption that 90% of the public is musically illiterate anyway so what does it matter?) Very few have perfect pitch and so we all tune to the closest pitch the all of us can get. Still, on tight harmonies, it can make our skin crawl. Ugh.
Second: Where does all that water come from? I can't get through a number without ending up sounding like I'm playing on the deck of the Titanic. My local shop is putting four Amato drain valves on my horn this week just so I can get rid of the stuff mid-tune.
Third: Neither pistons nor rotors work well below 25F. Six of the "Hothands" chemical handwarmer packs keep my Miraphone working, the Yamaha needs eight. Thats just as long as we don't dawdle between tunes. If we do its going to take a few minutes in a warm environment to get the valves working again.
Last: We all bought Kelly mouthpieces a few years ago for this type of playing. Two of us won't play without them and two of us don't really see the need. I'm one of the latter. I play the original Sidey SSH on either horn and find that it doesn't get very cold between numbers even at 15F. Maybe it cools off quickly, being stainless steel, but also warms right back up?
If anyone else is playing outdoors in anything like these temps I would love to have your thoughts. (And I'd like to know we're not totally insane for doing this!)
I know that someone posted a link to a patent for cold weather valve oil here a few years ago and if you still have it I would be very interested.
Thanks and Merry Christmas.

Oh yeah, I like the Macallan 12 too, but my first choice is Dalwhinnie.

The Mac 12 solves alot of problems but not all...you will be warmer, the horn will not, condensation will remain a problem, intonation will not be improved but you wont care as much. Assuming a liberal dose of the Mac has been applied early in the gig your valves may or may not work better...IMHO - use a piston valve horn if you can- they just seem sturdier ....

well.....you are totally crazy, but I think you're doing well. Make sure you layer up also!

I'm with using a Kelly mouthpiece, and either pure kerosene or a little vodka in the valve oil down the valve slides on the rotary horns to lubricate the valves and keep them from freezing, and making sure before going out that the little wells in the valve caps are full of sewing machine oil and the top rotor bearing is soaked in sewing machine oil and the linkage in 3-N-1 oil. Or use propylene glycol as an additive (NOT ethylene or polyethylene glycol, the poisonous antifreezes!). It's used as a sweetener and food coloring solvent. It is a little bit viscous, but a slightly slow valve is better than a frozen one.

Yes, the condensation can pour like a river. I have to dump frequently when I'm playing outdoors for a Salvation Army kettle.

Good news is that it is gonna be warmer this weekend...

Valves freeze quickly in Vermont..A wooden mouthpiece helps. So does playing the top part whenever possible. Pedal tones, while enjoyable, lead quickly to massive condensation. Intonation is a lovely concept that we wave to as it passes by.
Oh yes, try wearing kayaking gloves- good traction, and they add a certain style to the whole ensemble..

Thanks Gary. Knew I could count on you. Thanks also for the handwarmer pouch/appliance. It got used.
C.

If only we had those all those years ago when I was in high school & university marching band!