Why the snickering?

[Easty621]

All of that stuff that the elephant brought out are reasons why - when on stage - I try to keep motion to a minimum (My piston tubas have SEVERAL waterkeys...NO SPINNING !!!)...and try to avoid using mutes...(unless the CONDUCTOR notices that the tuba part is muted).

The only problem is that whenever the tuba player puts his/her tuba up (if he/she has a really shinny tuba) the bright lights reflect off the bell and into the eyes of the audience members, which is almost always followed by a look back there by the audience. And you know what they are thinking, "that dang tuba player."

[TubaRay]

It always amazes me at how often we hear of the Hellenburg, or Hellenberg, mouthpiece. That's almost as common as the "vintage" instruments of Ebay.

[windshieldbug]

That's almost as common as the "vintage" instruments of Ebay.

"... in extremely good condition for its age!"

[Rick Denney]

It always amazes me at how often we hear of the Hellenburg, or Hellenberg, mouthpiece. That's almost as common as the "vintage" instruments of Ebay.

Or "Hirshbrunner", which at least follows the correct pronunciation.

The names of people are a little different, because that's messing with someone's identity. I really do get tired of my name being spelled like the restaurant name, even though I'm entirely used to it. I expect those who we talk about frequently probably get tired of their names being misspelled, too. It's usually easy enough to tell whether it's an honest typo or a mistake of ignorance, the latter of which is correctable (and usually appreciated, at least by grownups).

Rick "amused but not annoyed" Denney

[tubatooter1940]

Why any tuba player would want to be taken seriously escapes me. The huge horn is a hook. People want to hear you blow it and who cares if they are predisposed to laugh. They are paying attention and that's all any good musician needs starting out.
We can then impress them with our power and speed or milk the laughs all the way to the bank.

[TubaRay]

That's almost as common as the "vintage" instruments of Ebay.

"... in extremely good condition for its age!"

Well, of course.

[TubaRay]

It always amazes me at how often we hear of the Hellenburg, or Hellenberg, mouthpiece. That's almost as common as the "vintage" instruments of Ebay.

Or "Hirshbrunner", which at least follows the correct pronunciation.

The names of people are a little different, because that's messing with someone's identity. I really do get tired of my name being spelled like the restaurant name, even though I'm entirely used to it. I expect those who we talk about frequently probably get tired of their names being misspelled, too. It's usually easy enough to tell whether it's an honest typo or a mistake of ignorance, the latter of which is correctable (and usually appreciated, at least by grownups).

Rick "amused but not annoyed" Denney

And thank you for those comments, Mister Reek Dennie. I'm so glad I'm a spellllling exspert.

[lgb&dtuba]

To the uninitiated, it must be similar to seeing a tubist play the Czardas.

Steve Sykes played a concert with us a few years ago, the only concert as such we've done in the past 10 years, and played Czardas. He told a pretty funny story about it to the audience and that had them laughing. Then he played it. After that they gave him a standing ovation.

The man was funny - the tubist was a virtuoso.

And as nice a guy as you'll ever meet.

JIm Wagner

[Rick Denney]

And thank you for those comments, Mister Reek Dennie. I'm so glad I'm a spellllling exspert.

That takes me back to the laughter (from the other members of the TubaMeisters) on those few occasions I tried to say something in German. Oh, the psychological pain at the hands of fellow tuba players, selfishly trying to protect themselves from a German-speaking audience by throwing their spokesman under the bus.

Rick "noting how cold it is on the porch in January" Denney

[TubaRay]

And thank you for those comments, Mister Reek Dennie. I'm so glad I'm a spellllling exspert.

That takes me back to the laughter (from the other members of the TubaMeisters) on those few occasions I tried to say something in German. Oh, the psychological pain at the hands of fellow tuba players, selfishly trying to protect themselves from a German-speaking audience by throwing their spokesman under the bus.
Rick "noting how cold it is on the porch in January" Denney

Thanks, Rick.

Ray "noting the very subtle message" Grim

[windshieldbug]

Oh, the psychological pain at the hands of fellow tuba players, selfishly trying to protect themselves from a German-speaking audience by throwing their spokesman under the bus.

Perhaps you had unknowingly said the German for "oil", and they merely wanted to know if you could change it for them...

[Randy Beschorner]

It always amazes me at how often we hear of the Hellenburg, or Hellenberg, mouthpiece.

Given the nature of this thread, maybe Dork & Son tubas on eBay are appropriate.[/quote]

[Rick Denney]

Ray "noting the very subtle message" Grim

Nothing to worry about. We've got warm sleeping bags.

Rick "which reminds me...time to start practicing duets" Denney

[windshieldbug]

Then you may wish to report this, also:

[Wyvern]

There you go--all that time and money spent developing one's technique on an instrument, only to be described as "ludicrously virtuosic" by some reviewer.

Well, at least no-one expects us to be virtuosic, so when we do something showy, in my experience EVERYONE is impressed! No-one would take any notice of a trumpeter playing the same.

The only problem is that whenever the tuba player puts his/her tuba up (if he/she has a really shinny tuba) the bright lights reflect off the bell and into the eyes of the audience members, which is almost always followed by a look back there by the audience. And you know what they are thinking, "that dang tuba player."

This reminds me of a concert I did earlier this year playing Shostakovitch 5 in a church - just as the tuba comes in ten minutes into the first movement a beam of sunlight came through a window direct onto my big Neptune. I was completely dazzled (could not see the conductor and hardly the music), but kept going. I could see the reflections of light bouncing all over the church - I can only image what it looked like out front. I have never felt so conspicuous!

Then just as I finished the section, the sun moved around and I was back in the (seeming) dark - that could not be planned.

[LoyalTubist]

And for you double-bassists, here is an actual review of a really great performance:

One of Mozart's final pieces was a concert aria, Per Questa Bella Mano, for bass voice with solo double bass obbligato. It is one of the strangest pieces he ever wrote. Played by Love Persson, who stood beside Quasthoff, the double bass part is thrillingly, ludicrously virtuosic. For all Persson's heroic efforts, the effect was pure comedy, as the double bass's low-register chuntering dramatised the serene text, a hymn to fidelity.

Quasthoff explained the reason for this unique and baffling work: Mozart knew that the orchestra's double bass player had his eye on Mozart's wife, Constanze; the ridiculously demanding solo was designed as the sweetest kind of musical humiliation.

Quasthoff's sensuous vocal line was in complete contrast to the blood and sweat of Persson's playing until the end of the aria, when the double bass played the tune, and Quasthoff became the accompanist; the final comic turn in this perfectly pitched musical farce.

There you go--all that time and money spent developing one's technique on an instrument, only to be described as "ludicrously virtuosic" by some reviewer.

It'll make a great TV soap opera. If they show it in Vietnam, it will come on seven nights a week. All the music will be drowned out by the female translator who is explaining what you are listening to.

[ken k]

It always amazes me at how often we hear of the Hellenburg, or Hellenberg, mouthpiece. That's almost as common as the "vintage" instruments of Ebay.

and the authentic Selman....