Ophicleide??

[Kyle Turner]

There is a maker in Germany named Friedbert Syhre, who recently made a modern ophicleide. It is a wonderful instrument in F that was built so that todays tuba players can play it without too much difficulty. I played it last Summer at the Bard Music Festival with the American Symphony. It was a lot of fun to play an ophicleide part on an ophicleide. There are some pictures of it at: http://www.kyleturnertuba.com" target="_blank" target="_blank

[J.c. Sherman]

There is a maker in Germany named Friedbert Syhre, who recently made a modern ophicleide. It is a wonderful instrument in F that was built so that todays tuba players can play it without too much difficulty. I played it last summer at the Bard Music Festival with the American Symphony. It was a lot of fun to play an ophicleide part on an ophicleide. There are some pictures of it at: http://www.kyleturnertuba.com" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

That is not an ophicleide in any nature.

Also - a point I missed: People always expect the ophicleide to sound like something, and it does - it sounds like an ophicleide. It isn't designed to sound like anything else, and nothing else is designed to sound like it (with the possible exception of the French Tuba in C, which was designed to balance like one).

Nick Byrn has put in the time on ophicleide that none of us trying to make a living have put in. That's true of a large number of brass "historical performance" folks; they are all adept at a modern instrument, but "double" on their antique cousins. Nick is a wonderful trombonist (obviously) but has put in the man hours to truly master the instrument.

I will never claim to be in his league as a player. But I've had the absolute joy of using the ophicleide in modern ensembles. Why? Yes, it's fun. But it's also the instrument written for, and the final product was positively affected by using the designated instrument.

Again - it's its own instrument; using a tuba on an ophicleide part, claiming the ophicleide an inferior predecessor, is like deciding to use soprano saxophone instead of a Clarinet since the Saxophone is newer. In fact, might as well use a synthesizer - it's perfectly in tune and can be performed perfectly.

"The old is good, not just because it's past; nor is the new supreme because we live with it." - Hindemith

J.c.S.

[David Richoux]

I think the question of that "Modern Ophicleide" has come up on similar threads in the past - without digging for the exact quote, as I recall, the instrument is correctly named, based on instruments that were designed in the late 1800s as a CONTEMPORARY valve replacement for the keyed ophicleide, and called that - instead of "tuba" or "Euphonium."

here is a rough translation of the maker's history of the instrument - so while it is not a Keyed Ophicleide, it is still correctly named, by his terms.

[J.c. Sherman]

I think the question of that "Modern Ophicleide" has come up on similar threads in the past - without digging for the exact quote, as I recall, the instrument is correctly named, based on instruments that were designed in the late 1800s as a CONTEMPORARY valve replacement for the keyed ophicleide, and called that - instead of "tuba" or "Euphonium."

here is a rough translation of the maker's history of the instrument - so while it is not a Keyed Ophicleide, it is still correctly named, by his terms.

Actually, this instrument is much bigger than a 19th century "ophicleide a piston" or similar Viennese or Italian instruments. Yes, there were transition instruments with valves, in F which essentially had the same bore profile from the bell working back, which then entered a largely cylindrical section of additional tubing to drop the pitch to F, and - of course - a valve section.

The instrument in question is much larger, especially in the mouthpiece and in the ending taper. It's like calling a Yamaha 621-F a Euphonium. Close, but no cigar.

The valved ophicleide by Uhlmann in the wiki article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basse_d%E2%80%99harmonie" target="_blank
is the historic instrument in question. But it's also important to remember that that instrument is a hybrid instrument. It's transitional, a subject of many competing tastes, needs, playing characteristics and external pressures... and it didn't last long.

This modern instrument is beautiful, very sexy, and probably a MUCH better substitute for the ophicleide than most modern tubas. But - put in historical context, it's much closer to matching the early "Basso Tubas" of the same period, also in use in Italy. It would be a better match to use a euphonium with Bobo's TT mouthpiece for ophicleide parts. But I bet this instrument would be a great instrument for Mascagni and other composers of that region and period.

Of course... in sympathy, an instrument maker is entitled to call an instrument s/he makes anything s/he wants. But it sure has a pretty euphonium bell.

J.c.S. (who acknowledges he's a bit of a pedant on this topic)

[windshieldbug]

Donn, have you tried a bari/tuba mp in one of your low saxs?

Bob,
a brass mouthpiece in a bari sax gives you the "right" kind of sound with a full Boehm system to back it up... but, I've found, not too popular with historical types!

[imperialbari]

Donn, have you tried a bari/tuba mp in one of your low saxs?

Bob,
a brass mouthpiece in a bari sax gives you the "right" kind of sound with a full Boehm system to back it up... but, I've found, not too popular with historical types!

If so, just use Helvetica or Times.

K

[windshieldbug]

not too popular with historical types!

If so, just use Helvetica or Times.

K

The REAL historians always prefer Roman...

[imperialbari]

Der Keller ist tief.

K

[Dean E]

This week I got my first ophicleide part in an aria by Gaetano Donizetti. We have about a 60-piece community orchestra.

The range is bottom line G to D above the staff, exactly the same as the 3rd trombone. I'm afraid that my Yamaha YFB-822S would be too full-blooded.

I think this should be played on a baritone, or valved trombone, neither of which I have ever played. However, it would be a good excuse to bring out my circa 1921, Conn/Pan American peashooter Eb.

[MartyNeilan]

This week I got my first ophicleide part in an aria by Gaetano Donizetti. We have about a 60-piece community orchestra.
...
However, it would be a good excuse to bring out my circa 1921, Conn/Pan American peashooter Eb.

Bingo

[J.c. Sherman]

Good call - unless you have a euph with a Bobo TT mouthpiece.