what horns does mr tucci play on

[bttmbow]

"Good answer!"... Anyone but DP; name the movie (I own it and love it!).

CJH

[poomshanka]

The Impostors.

Hah!

...D

[Todd S. Malicoate]

It took a while to get a reply, but Mr. Tucci was very nice and answered my email. Here's the reply:

Mr. Tucci,

Thank you for reading my letter. I have been in some discussion with colleagues here in the United States and we are wondering what models (and keys) of tubas you commonly play in orchestras there. There is a common belief here that piston-valve C tubas are somewhat forbidden in Germany, and I am wondering if you can speak to that so that I may share the information with my tuba-playing friends here. My thanks to you for any information you can provide.

Many regards,

Todd S. Malicoate

Dear Todd,

Thank you for your message of 31 August; this was passed around a bit,
finally arrived in my mailbox and now for the reply:

As for myself, most of the time I play a PT-6P, but of course I play
the F-Tuba, the Cimbasso and the BBb-tuba.

You are correct in so far as the typical German tuba player is
concerned: main instrument a large-bore F-tuba such as the PT-10, then a
BBb-tuba for the "Ring" and various symphonic works.

The CC-tuba is not outlawed in German orchestras, it is simply a
different tradition. At the Bavarian State Opera and particularly
during my tenure there, 1972-2005, the repertoire was almost always
full-blown through and through. The orchestra invariably plays as
orchestrated, 104 musicians for "Die Frau ohne Schatten" for example,
similar for "Elektra" or "Salome". Wolfgang Sawallisch was music
director, followed by Zubin Mehta. Both liked the large tuba, Sawallisch
would ask should I bring in something smaller and for Mehta, it was a
matter of course, with his symphonic approach and background.

To answer your question, the "B & S" PT-10, later the PT-12 /six-valve)
for light Verdi or similar scores, the PT-6P for all eighteen Strauss
operas, the Russian ones plus the Russian ballets, almost all the
symphonic programs unless Berlioz was on, otherwise the BBb-tuba for
"Ring".

That's the story - better late than never.

Bob Tucci
Munich

So there's your answer, James.