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Sam Pilafian playing the Harvard tuba in 1979

Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2019 8:51 pm
by Dave Detwiler
Hi all,

In the process of writing the first of three upcoming articles on the Harvard tuba for The Brass Herald, I was supplied with a recording of the late Sam Pilafian playing that historic horn back in 1979. The Harvard Band graciously granted me permission to post a YouTube video so that the world can hear Sam wrangle this beast and coax music out of it!

Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSpQ2Sh1UUo

Enjoy!
Dave

Re: Sam Pilafian playing the Harvard tuba in 1979

Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2019 9:13 pm
by groovlow
Definitive 8/4 BAT
Performance

Put a goofy smile on my face
Thank You
Joe H

Re: Sam Pilafian playing the Harvard tuba in 1979

Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2019 10:22 pm
by tylerferris1213
I can only imagine what a bear that thing would be to play!

Re: Sam Pilafian playing the Harvard tuba in 1979

Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2019 7:13 am
by Paul Scott
Resistance is not futile......

Re: Sam Pilafian playing the Harvard tuba in 1979

Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 10:08 pm
by mikebmiller
Does that beast take a regular sized mouthpiece?

Re: Sam Pilafian playing the Harvard tuba in 1979

Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2019 8:04 am
by Dave Detwiler
mikebmiller wrote:Does that beast take a regular sized mouthpiece?
According to Tom Everett, the Harvard Band director from 1971-2013, the original mouthpiece had gone missing, but they created a replacement with the proper sized shank, but it was playable. Tom thinks that's what Sam used for the performance, although he had initially practiced with his own mouthpiece, along with a shank adapter.

Dillon Music is just about finished with the full restoration of that historic horn, and they created a new mouthpiece for it. I'll be seeing that soon, and will report back.