One key for everything

Wyvern · Post by **Wyvern** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 4:41 pm

The comments in the "Kruspe F Tuba" thread got me wondering - Are there any professional orchestral tubists in the USA today which play everything on just one key of tuba, be it CC, BBb, Eb, or F?

There are (I believe) still professionals in the UK using Eb for everything, although their numbers are steadily shrinking as CC becomes more widely used.

k001k47 · Post by **k001k47** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 6:12 pm

tubashaman wrote:Oystein Baadsvik ONLY uses Eb....I heard somewhere he has a CC that he NEVER uses.

But I seriously dont think you could play in a big orchestra with just an F, especially if you play Shostakovich

I belive Oystein only does solo work.

Wyvern · Post by **Wyvern** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 6:25 pm

The thing is Oystein Baadsvik is not an orchestral tubist, or in the USA.

The point of my question was Kilton Vinal Smith played just on F in the Boston Symphony all those years ago. Does anyone play professionally in a US orchestra today on only one key of tuba. I expect not on an F, would not be considered powerful enough but everything on CC for example? Or is the use of tubas in multiple keys now considered obligatory for the job?