Steven Campbell (Minnesota) - what tuba?

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barry grrr-ero
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Steven Campbell (Minnesota) - what tuba?

Post by barry grrr-ero »

I'm curious as to what tuba Steven Campbell normally uses in the Minnesota Orchestra. They'll be recording ALL of the Mahler symphonies for the BIS label. That should be quite a show.

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Re: Steven Campbell (Minnesota) - what tuba?

Post by bort »

As far as I know, he used to use a PT6, and recently(?) switched to the MRP. It's about a 10 minute walk from my house, I'll have to make it over there for a few!
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Re: Steven Campbell (Minnesota) - what tuba?

Post by barry grrr-ero »

That's the rotary valve CC I hope to someday trade my "Neptune" towards. Interesting. Thanks.

http://www.b-and-s.com/en/instruments/c-tubas/mrp-c/" target="_blank" target="_blank
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Re: Steven Campbell (Minnesota) - what tuba?

Post by MikeMason »

Yes, played one at itec last year. Was one of the few tubas I lusted after. And yes, I may have to own the new Mahler recording when available.
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Re: Steven Campbell (Minnesota) - what tuba?

Post by ECUorchbound »

He's currently playing on a B&S MRP CC tuba. Has been for over a year I believe.
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Re: Steven Campbell (Minnesota) - what tuba?

Post by doublebuzzing »

Yep he switched to the rotary tuba. Mouthpiece is a Monette 94 or 98. As an aside, I heard their Mahler 2 broadcast live a couple Fridays back and there was something to be desired. The performance itself seemed a little ho-hum. The horns were very muffled and the rest of the brass wasn't all that well miked either. Hopefully that changes for the recordings.
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Re: Steven Campbell (Minnesota) - what tuba?

Post by bort »

I think that hall and the seating arrangement are ho hum there. It's a very good group, though.
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Re: Steven Campbell (Minnesota) - what tuba?

Post by jtuba »

Heard the Mahler broadcast, Vanska's pacing might have not been to everyone's liking. The Prokofiev 5 and Mathis der Maler, they(he) were killing it.
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Re: Steven Campbell (Minnesota) - what tuba?

Post by bort »

doublebuzzing wrote:Yep he switched to the rotary tuba. Mouthpiece is a Monette 94 or 98. As an aside, I heard their Mahler 2 broadcast live a couple Fridays back and there was something to be desired. The performance itself seemed a little ho-hum. The horns were very muffled and the rest of the brass wasn't all that well miked either. Hopefully that changes for the recordings.
I thought he was previously using a PT6, not a PT6P? Meh, who cares. He sounds great!
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Re: Steven Campbell (Minnesota) - what tuba?

Post by barry grrr-ero »

The BIS label generally makes excellent sounding recordings, so I'm sure the brass will be plenty audible on their upcoming Mahler recordings.
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Re: Steven Campbell (Minnesota) - what tuba?

Post by doublebuzzing »

He used to use a PT6P for many years with the orchestra. Sounds great either way. I don't notice a difference really. I don't know what is up with that hall. It seems like it has a brilliant acoustic but the broadcasts are strange since the renovation. It used to be unbelievably lively in that hall. Now the horns always seem like they are in another room.
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Re: Steven Campbell (Minnesota) - what tuba?

Post by bort »

I only made it to one performance last year (Dvorak 8), and also thought the horn sound was underwhelming, but not for a lack of effort. I've always thought their seating arrangement could have something to do it as well...?
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Re: Steven Campbell (Minnesota) - what tuba?

Post by barry grrr-ero »

Interesting. If the horns aren't cutting through, they should probably experiment moving them elsewhere.

In a community orchestra performance of Mahler 6 (I've been in several) - performed in a dead sounding multipurpose hall - I talked the conductor into placing the horns across the back, dead center. It made a HUGE difference. No pun intended, but it gave them the confidence to 'take the bull by the horns'.
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