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I hesitated writing this because horn selection can become a heated topic, but this is too interesting to me not to point out.

I happened upon this recording of the Concertgebouw Orchestra playing Bruckner 5 a few weeks ago:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFzcmb2SKNo&t=431s

It is, in my opinion, a spectacular recording of Bruckner 5.

The tuba playing stuck out to me here as wonderfully present yet not overbearing. Upon a closer inspection, it looks like the part is being played on an F tuba the whole time (ex: 1:06:02; 1:07:47). This isn't a choice a lot of players would make when confronted with a Bruckner symphony, even confronted with bass tuba being specified in some of the parts. I don't say this as a criticism. His orchestrations are huge, the parts span a wide range, and contrabass tuba makes a lot of logical sense.

But I've spent a lot of time recently being frustrated with playing a large CC tuba (PT6 - not the biggest tuba around, but certainly not small), and this is more proof to me that a very large tuba may not be necessary in as many places as I previously thought.

timayer wrote: The tuba playing stuck out to me here as wonderfully present yet not overbearing.

That's a very tuba-friendly hall, plus they hang mics from the ceiling during tapings, so it has the close-mic effect.

But yeah: Bruckner 4, 5, and 6 work great on smaller tubas. I've played 'em a bunch on Eb.

Anyone know what tuba he's playing?

He and I are friends on Facebook, I can ask him, but I think it's a HB10 or HB12. One of the piston Hisbrunner F tubad

Awesome, thanks. Sounds great!

My former professor is an Adams Artist now, he sounded amazing on his Adams (but he sounded great on everything), Hirbrunner and Adams horn look identical in layout and I imagine they play similarly too, but I haven't tried any Hirbrunner that I could compare except the Yorkbrunner, which along with the 6/4 Adams both fell short of the Nirschl York for me.

In all honesty an F (or Eb) might Just sound better on almost any recording. The closer its mic'ed the more obvious How muddy a larger tuba can sound.
Ive also heard this opinion reflecteert by sound engineers (uh, and not necessaily about my kan playing, he he)

Live vs recorded is a whole 'nother thing.

Also, I'm embarrassed to say, that's the first time I've heard Bruckner's 5th!