EdFirth wrote:While C tubas unargueably have a prettier sound when played alone BBb's are not without credibility.
Although this obviously is a subjective statement, I would indeed argue that the statement is incorrect. It is incorrect due to the fact that I would argue that C tubas(actually, CC tubas) do not inherently make prettier sounds
OK. TNFJ. I know we've been down this path before, so don't jump my case about this, but I have to ask: Are you going to let this statement go unchallenged?
Since I have not really weighed in on the subject before, I will now. As a beginner, I learned on a BBb sousaphone. I did not have an actual tuba to play until I began college as a music major. At that time, I was issued a 4-valve, BBb Besson tuba. I don't even know what model it was, but it had a silver finish, and it certainly responded differently than the sousaphones I had previously played. During the early part of my sophomore year, the music department added a 4 valve, CC, Miraphone 186 to its inventory. After a period of arguing, haggling, and struggling with another of the tuba majors, I was able to wrangle it into being "my" tuba. I learned the fingerings, and have played a CC tuba ever since, although I purchased my own sometime later.
With the above information as my experience(essentially), I would offer this opinion about the various keys of tubas. The CC and BBb tubas obviously represent the contrabass tuba, and the F and Eb tubas represent the basstuba. I believe contrabass tubas fill one function and bass tubas fill another. Beyond that, the primary difference to me(I'd like to emphasize the "to me" part), is the ease of fingerings. On the contrabass side, the CC tuba accesses the sharp keys a bit better, and the BBb tuba accesses the flat keys better. The one step difference between the two makes the BBb better, by one step suited to low register work, and vice-versa. Somewhat the same can be said for the F and Eb tubas, correspondingly.
I hear all kinds of arguments that go on and on about the comparisons. For my perspective, I don't hear a difference in sound. Perhaps this is due to my lack of musicianship. Well, the last time I checked I wasn't, and hadn't been a member of a major symphony orchestra, so maybe I have no right to make such a statement. That's OK by me. I'm cashing in on being a member of the TNFJ. This entitles me to say just about anything I want. It neither makes me right, nor does it protect me from the flames.
Now, TNFJ. It's your turn.
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