TubeNet

Could anyone tell me the ranges for the first tuba parts in the TubaChristmas books? Are both tuba parts playable on BBb's or CC's or do they require Eb's and F's? We are thinking of putting together a Door County TubaChristmas and/or Octubafest and have a plethora of big tubas but at this point no small ones. (Might use this as an excuse to the spousal unit for another horn, but that's another story... )

I am going to order the book myself, but any immediate input on ranges would be very helpful.

Thanks in advance!

kegmcnabb wrote:I am going to order the book myself, but any immediate input on ranges would be very helpful.

I don't have the book in front of me, but I don't rmemeber any of the tuba parts being really high. I'm sure that both Tuba 1 and 2 parts can be played on a contrabass tuba.

I agree that all the parts are playable on a contrabass, but at the caveat that the players have to be at least decent.

Another caveat is that the parts sit high and stay there, so it can be a real endurance test if you aren't used to playing that high consistently. I take the F tuba for the first part just to keep from having to work so hard. The smaller F on the third part also helps keep the overall sound from being too thick.

Rick "who speaks blasphemy and says that the TC parts are more difficult than they need to be for the music they produce" Denney

Given a choice, I don't think anyone would choose to play the top tuba part on a BBb or CC, if they had an EEb or F available. The endurance issue Rick mentioned is the biggest one - Tuba Christmas concerts are long.

Angels From the Realms of Glory brings the Tuba 1's up to a middle C (one line above the staff)