Abe Torchinsky, 1920-2009

[MKainuma]

Dear Tuba friends and colleagues,

With great sadness, I relay the news that Abe Torchinsky passed away this morning.

My heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, colleagues and former students.

Mr. T, thank you for your encouragement, support and kindness.

Respectfully,
Morris Kainuma

[cambrook]

I never had the opportunity to meet Mr Torchinsky, but I learned a lot from him via the excellent books of excerpts that carry his name. When I was a student it was very satisfying to be able to show my non-tuba friends that we tuba players had the best excerpt books around.

Rest in peace.

[Steven Noel]

I am so sorry to hear this sad news , Mr. T was a wonderful person , player and teacher . Mr T was a really good friend of my teacher also , i met him a few times , im so glad i got that chance . god bless him , and my prayers go to his family too .
with great respect and sadness ,
Steven Noel .
BBb, New England Brass Band .

[eupher61]

Torchy is playin' and swingin' at last.

thanks, Mr T, for the legacy of music and friendship.

[Toad Away]

Rest in Peace, Mr. T.



Who could ever forget this recording?:

[Jay Bertolet]

I count myself as lucky to have had the chance to work with Mr. T for 5 wonderful years. He was an amazing teacher, with a depth of knowledge of music and tuba that was really awe inspiring. His legacy will live on for many, many years through his amazing playing and his massive impact on countless students around the world.

Kindest regards and sympathies,
Jay Bertolet

[Matt G]

A true hero of the tuba world.

RIP.

[Kory101]

My teacher told me a story about Mr. Torchinsky recently. They were sitting next to each other at Carol's recital at ITEC at Denver and and Mr. Torchinsky said "If I still owned tubas, after hear that, I'd sell them!"

[Karl H.]

Can't write about this sad news yet, but here's a link:

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/arts ... _2009.html" target="_blank" target="_blank

Karl

[tubapress]

Truly sad news, but his legacy lives on in timeless fashion. Thanks Mr. T for all you have given us!

[hbcrandy]

I am greatly saddened by to hear of Mr. Torchinsky's passing. I had the priviledge of studying with him for a brief period, about 7 years ago, at his home. He was a great teacher and human being. Rest in peace, maestro.

[OldsRecording]

That makes me sad. I had the privilege to meet Mr. Torchinsky (and play for him) when I visited Interlochen Arts Academy prior to attanding for my senior year of high school.

[LARSONTUBA]

A friend of mine and I had the pleasure of talking with Mr Torchinsky at length in the lobby at ITEC 2006 in Denver. He had many insightful and helpful things to share about the tuba world, how it has changed, and his experiences in it over the last several decades. I will always remember those conversations! He will be missed, but his legacy will continue on for a long time to come.

Andy Larson

[Tubman]

This man left a lasting impression on me simply from his work in the Gabrieli recordings. Definitely one of the greats.

R.I.P. Torchinsky

[Steve Marcus]

Having grown up in the Philadelphia area, Mr. Torchinsky's playing was very significant to me when I attended the orchestra's concerts at the Academy of Music or at Robin Hood Dell East (before the Robin Hood Dell West--later the Mann Music Center--became the Orchestra's summer home).

There's a great photo somewhere on the Internet of "Three Generations of Tuba Playing in Philadelphia." It has Abe Torchinsky, Paul Krzywicki, and Carol Jantsch together.

That great, rare Columbia LP by the so-called "Torchy Jones Brass Quintet" that Ormandy had removed from the retail shelves because it contained *gasp* non-classical music--Catch the Brass Ring--was finally recently released on CD not long before Mr. Torchinsky passed away.

[THE TUBA]

There's a great photo somewhere on the Internet of "Three Generations of Tuba Playing in Philadelphia." It has Abe Torchinsky, Paul Krzywicki, and Carol Jantsch together.

[ppalan]

May he rest in Peace. We've lost a great musician and a better human being.
I studied with Torchy for about 8 years and was his last student at Temple University. It was through his encouragement that I contacted Bill Bell and purchased my first horn; a Meinl-Weston. Mr. Bell actually delivered the horn to Torchy's house where I picked it up. I can't tell you how terrified I was when Mr. Bell told me to test it to see if I liked it. He had several more in his van that he was delivering to the Air Force Band and said I could chose another if it wasn't to my liking. There I was, a crummy freshman in college, playing an "audition" in Abe Torchinsky's living room with Bill Bell waiting for my evaluation of a tuba. Holy S#%! I remember him every time I play and still use many of the exercises and concepts he (and by extension Mr. Bell) gave me to keep my chops in shape.

Pete Palan
B.Mus Ed.
Temple University 1972
Philadelphia German Brass Band
Southeast Pennsylvania Symphony Orchestra
Cardinal Dougherty Alumni Band

[Matt Good]

http://www.philly.com/philly/obituaries ... hians.html

[tubajoe]

When I was a kid, my dad had this record.

That's why I learned to play the tuba.

[Matt G]

That Christmas album is still the best, IMO, out of all the brass related Christmas stuff I have. It was pressed on CDs, and is available still, IIRC. Great playing all around with a few pedal tones snuck in here and there also! Spun every Christmas!