TubeNet

Hello everyone!

I'm just curious whether any of you know of any recordings, or preferably Youtube videos
where the Rudy 5/4 CC is put to the test. I want to hear what it can sound like, being handled by a professional.

http://encoremupub.com/cgi/commerce.cgi ... n&key=9208
Extreme virtuosity, although I don't like the way it was miked.

Checkout some of the Dutoit/Montreal recordings from the 80's like The Planets and Symphonie Fantastique....Lance Nagels is playing tuba on the Planets on his 5/4 Rudy and both Lance AND Ellis Wean are playing their Rudy's on the Berlioz!!! Good stuff!

While impressive, I would not use the Seward recording as a representative example of the sonic qualities present in a 5/4 Rudy.

Thanks guys! I'll probably not order these recordings just to listen to the instrument, since I have to make up my mind to buy a very nice example of a 5/4 Rudy.

The main reason for asking is that, after having tried one a few minutes (with no first hand experience with BAT's before), I'm uncertian about the lower register. The one i tried sounded like heaven, with immense sound down to a-flat below the staff, but further down, it became more "trombony" in terms of sound. Will I with time be able to produce that huge, round and clear sound, futher down the octaves, or does the instrument change tonal character when going further down? All tubas does anyway sound quite different when playing with an ensemble, than alone in a living room, so it might be that too.

Can anyone with experience from Rudy 5/4s enlighten me?

Check out some older recordings of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra where Rex Martin is playing tuba. Most of those I'm sure he was using his 5/4 Rudy on. You will not hear a better sound come out of that particular horn than his.

The CSO discography with listing of who's playing tuba can be found in an appendix of Brian Fredericksen's Song and Wind.

There is an great performance by Markus Hotzel playing the Meistersinger Prelude on a Rudy BBb 5/4 at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9VqdSnEZqo
Tonally, the CC should sound much the same

For the low register of the Rudy - I suspect that like most BIG tubas, one needs to sit back (with slow air stream) and let the tuba do the work and it will not respond well if pushed like a small tuba

tubaknut wrote:The main reason for asking is that, after having tried one a few minutes (with no first hand experience with BAT's before), I'm uncertian about the lower register. The one i tried sounded like heaven, with immense sound down to a-flat below the staff, but further down, it became more "trombony" in terms of sound. Will I with time be able to produce that huge, round and clear sound, futher down the octaves, or does the instrument change tonal character when going further down?

I generally think of that as a characteristic of German-style tubas (one could further consider it a trait of almost all tubas since you're adding so much cylindrical tubing). Embrace it!

I generally think of that as a characteristic of German-style tubas (one could further consider it a trait of almost all tubas since you're adding so much cylindrical tubing).

? ? ? ?

On what basis do you make that assumption Bob? I'd be very surprised if you could say that after playing a RM 5/4 CC. I used to play on a very nice RM 5/4 CC for many years, and while there is no such thing as a perfect tuba, I would never think to describe them as having a "trombony" low register. If RM 5/4 CC tubas did have that trait they would not have been used by great players in major orchestras - like Montreal and Chicago as mentioned above.

To answer the OP's question, I believe that you certainly will be able to produce a large, beautiful sound in the lowest register, it is one of the joys of playing a good RM 5/4.
The OP says he has not played a tuba like this before, so it is not surprising that it may take some time to become familiar with it.

Best regards,

Cam

Hi,

Saw your post asking for recordings with a Rudy 5/4 CC.

I would tell you that the best recording with an amazing tuba playing is Bach In the Wind played by the Montreal Symphonic Orchestra, I think two or three years ago. Those arragments were done by Mordecai Reichtman (not sure of the spelling).

Yan Sallafranque, a professionnal tuba player in Montreal is a monster on that recording. He handled that horn great that he exploited all the registers with so much facility, it's almost discouragins listening to it. His low register is on the picth all the time as well as his versatility in the high register.

That guy, I would say is one of the best tuba player on the planet. If not, I could tell that he is surely the best Rudy player i ever met. He played once with the Three Rivers Symphonic Orchestra with 77 musicians, a 250 choir, an organ and we were able to hear him anyway playing the 2nd of Mahler. It was a thrill to listen to that performance from a fellow tuba playing.

If you need further info, keep me posted.

Good luck in your quest.

Patrick Bérard
Montréal
Having a Rudy 5/4, BBb Bayreuth Model

Grand_Patou wrote:Hi,
I would tell you that the best recording with an amazing tuba playing is Bach In the Wind played by the Montreal Symphonic Orchestra, I think two or three years ago. Those arragments were done by Mordecai Reichtman (not sure of the spelling).

Are you sure you're not referring to the Bach in the Wind album played by the Montreal Festival Wind Orchestra?

This recording is available through Spotify, and after listening to the Passacaglia in C-minor, a piece I've played numerous times, I got goose bumps all over! (Of immense tubasound on the last chord.)
Truly stunning Bach performance on the highest level.

Thank you very much for your tip!

Knut

Hi Knut,

You were right for the album. I have one at home and cannot right it well...lol.

Anyhow, you heard Yan at it's best. Hope you had chance to listen to all the other pieces as well.

If you want to have further detail regarding the Rudy 5/4, it would be easy to reach Yan.

Keep me posted.

Regards,

Patrick

There is an great performance by Markus Hotzel playing the Meistersinger Prelude on a Rudy BBb 5/4 at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9VqdSnEZqo" target="_blank" target="_blank
Tonally, the CC should sound much the same

Markus plays a Rudy 5/4 C Tuba in this video, definitely not a BBb. Very, very impressive playing!

Matt

Jim Wise of Primetime Brass plays on a Rudy 5/4 CC.

This page has a few videos of Primetime playing.
http://www.primetimebrass.com/2_HotLinks.html" target="_blank

Mcordon1 wrote:Jim Wise of Primetime Brass plays on a Rudy 5/4 CC.

This page has a few videos of Primetime playing.
http://www.primetimebrass.com/2_HotLinks.html" target="_blank" target="_blank

Um... Wow... that was... special.

I could only hear out-of-tune screaching attempts on the trumpet. And terrible mellophone playing.

That's 5 minutes of my life I will never get back.

For the 5/4 Rudy sound, Listen to Hotzel or Adam Peck's stuff. They're both very tasty.

JHardisk wrote:

Mcordon1 wrote:Jim Wise of Primetime Brass plays on a Rudy 5/4 CC.

This page has a few videos of Primetime playing.
http://www.primetimebrass.com/2_HotLinks.html" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

Um... Wow... that was... special.

I could only hear out-of-tune screaching attempts on the trumpet. And terrible mellophone playing.

That's 5 minutes of my life I will never get back.

For the 5/4 Rudy sound, Listen to Hotzel or Adam Peck's stuff. They're both very tasty.

Yeah, sorry about that, I didn't look for any other recordings.
I heard them play tonight, they were 10 yards from my band in a beer tent after a parade. They were much more balanced. 2 tubas(Jim on his Rudy and another guy named Mark on a 1291 CC), maybe 5 bones/baritones and 5 trumpets. Sounded a lot better than those recordings. I don't know why he marches with it...it's fragile, pretty, and not a sousa. But he sounds great in the beer tent.

Adam Peck wrote:https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=47 ... permPage=1" target="_blank The Rudy 5/4 CC in Enigma variations.

Very nice !

Interesting example to illustrate the Rudi BAT, Adam. Some choose to play the Franck with bass tuba. Personally, the enveloping sound of the Rudy BAT blanketing (not destroying!) the orchestra is very pleasing to these ears. Nice.

oedipoes wrote:

Adam Peck wrote:https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=47 ... permPage=1" target="_blank The Rudy 5/4 CC in Enigma variations.

Very nice !

what's the point of posting this link??? It doesn't do anything for me

Adam Peck wrote:Thank you. A fun piece to perform.

Adam Peck wrote:https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=47 ... permPage=1" target="_blank The Rudy 5/4 CC in Enigma variations.

Hi Adam, is this link supposed to take us somewhere?