World's largest tuba

The bulk of the musical talk
Hank74
3 valves
3 valves
Posts: 395
Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2004 3:58 pm
Location: Upstate New York

World's largest tuba

Post by Hank74 »

Can anyone clarify to me as to where the world's largest tuba is located? I've heard it's currently at Harvard University in MA. If so, I might head there when I go next weekend to Boston to celebrate the 4th.
Hank74

Baritone Horn: Wessex BBb
Contras: Dynasty BBb
Helicon: Wessex BBb
Sousas: Conn, Holton, Jupiter, King, Yamaha. All BBb.
Tubas: King, Martin, Reynolds (one w/Olds bell). All BBb.
User avatar
The Big Ben
6 valves
6 valves
Posts: 3169
Joined: Sat Dec 16, 2006 11:54 am
Location: Port Townsend, WA

Re: World's largest tuba

Post by The Big Ben »

Hank74 wrote:Can anyone clarify to me as to where the world's largest tuba is located? I've heard it's currently at Harvard University in MA. If so, I might head there when I go next weekend to Boston to celebrate the 4th.
The following thread and pictures suggest it is still at Haaah-vaad:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=38084&hilit=BBBb+tu ... 08#p335425" target="_blank"

Look through the entire thread for a lot of information and trivia about these big horns:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=38084&hilit=BBBb+tuba" target="_blank"
pigman
bugler
bugler
Posts: 110
Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2007 10:19 pm
Location: long Island, NY

Re: World's largest tuba

Post by pigman »

The Tuba that stood over the doorway at Carl Fischer music In direct lie to The Mcsorley pub is in my opinion bigger than the Harvard hor It is taller a nd wider. While all the parts are there except a finger button it needs to be worked on . The Carl fischer people contacted me some years ago to have the instrument restored. apon inspection It would not fit into the doors in my shop . forget the height and weight. The company still has the instrument which the consider priceless. They will not sell it . There was some consineration of sending it to the Met for display but ultamately it was decided to move the instrument into the current ofiice s on Bleeker st in NYC. The move into th ebuilding was done by Bay crane service. and required removing a double window. sooo it wont be available for loan.

ray Noguera
User avatar
J.c. Sherman
6 valves
6 valves
Posts: 2116
Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2005 1:11 pm
Location: Cleveland
Contact:

Re: World's largest tuba

Post by J.c. Sherman »

The Harvard and Carl Fischer tubas are the same make and model from the same requested batch. However, one of these was recently acquired by the National Museum recently, if memory serves... (or was it Edinburgh?) I think they are the only BBBb instruments. There are several EEEb (actually EEb, depending on your point of view) and FF tubas.

J.c.S.
Instructor of Tuba & Euphonium, Cleveland State University
Principal Tuba, Firelands Symphony Orchestra
President, Variations in Brass
http://www.jcsherman.net
pigman
bugler
bugler
Posts: 110
Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2007 10:19 pm
Location: long Island, NY

Re: World's largest tuba

Post by pigman »

JC I m not so shure about that . The Carl fischer tuba has a much bigger bell and a different wrap. You have now caused me to call the fischer offices and go to take pictures

Ray
User avatar
J.c. Sherman
6 valves
6 valves
Posts: 2116
Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2005 1:11 pm
Location: Cleveland
Contact:

Re: World's largest tuba

Post by J.c. Sherman »

Le BBBb de Carl Fisher:
12766771_f6e6d0ef94.jpg
Le BBBb de Harvard
l_0de6ba578bb258e8a18f612e29724a7e.jpg
N'est pas?
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Instructor of Tuba & Euphonium, Cleveland State University
Principal Tuba, Firelands Symphony Orchestra
President, Variations in Brass
http://www.jcsherman.net
Mcordon1
bugler
bugler
Posts: 169
Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2009 1:30 am
Location: Boston, MA

Re: World's largest tuba

Post by Mcordon1 »

goodgigs wrote:VIDEO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DErgn_eA8Tw" target="_blank" target="_blank
Finally, something other than ancient photos!

I think I heard an extremely low C(C0?) around 6:05... :D
Very cool. Thanks for the find!
~Boston, MA
User avatar
J.c. Sherman
6 valves
6 valves
Posts: 2116
Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2005 1:11 pm
Location: Cleveland
Contact:

Re: World's largest tuba

Post by J.c. Sherman »

J.c. Sherman wrote:The Harvard and Carl Fischer tubas are the same make and model from the same requested batch. However, one of these was recently acquired by the National Museum recently, if memory serves... (or was it Edinburgh?) I think they are the only BBBb instruments. There are several EEEb (actually EEb, depending on your point of view) and FF tubas.

J.c.S.
I have a correction... a third BBBb Boosey, aka "The Guilded Monster Bass" was recently purchased by the Horniman museum.

Had to sort that out - it was bothering me :-)
Instructor of Tuba & Euphonium, Cleveland State University
Principal Tuba, Firelands Symphony Orchestra
President, Variations in Brass
http://www.jcsherman.net
User avatar
Steve Marcus
pro musician
pro musician
Posts: 1843
Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 12:18 am
Location: Chicago area
Contact:

Re: World's largest tuba

Post by Steve Marcus »

I have a correction... a third BBBb Boosey, aka "The Guilded Monster Bass" was recently purchased by the Horniman museum.


Isn't that the one that stood on the roof of the Boosey factory/shop for many years and, unlike the Harvard and Carl Fischer (when repaired) BBBb tubas, has "faux" non-functioning valves? In fact, is it even playable as an open bugle?

P.S. Now that the Amati FFF subcontrabass tuba has been "let out of its cage," is there a way that a pair of qualified tubists could be found to play the beast for a stereo videocam for dissemination via YouTube (or TubeNet)?
Steve Marcus
http://www.facebook.com/steve.marcus.88
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
TomMxEdit
bugler
bugler
Posts: 20
Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2007 8:19 pm

Re: World's largest tuba

Post by TomMxEdit »

Hey Bloke,

Wasn't that featured in "Horton Hears a Horn?"

Tom
bydloman
bugler
bugler
Posts: 45
Joined: Tue Mar 23, 2004 6:44 pm

Re: World's largest tuba

Post by bydloman »

I performed on this instrument with the Harvard band back around 1989. I understand that Sam Pilafian and several others have done the same. It (literally) requires three people to manage the beast. Naturally, the piece performed was "Asleep in the Deep".

Gary Ofenloch
User avatar
Art Hovey
pro musician
pro musician
Posts: 1508
Joined: Sun May 02, 2004 12:28 am
Location: Connecticut

Re: World's largest tuba

Post by Art Hovey »

Here's another shot of the Harvard tuba, taken at the NERTEC at UMass a few years ago:
Image
The yellow label makes me wonder if Mr. Sherman has his photos mixed up.
tofu
5 valves
5 valves
Posts: 1998
Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2004 11:59 pm
Location: One toke over the line...

Re: World's largest tuba

Post by tofu »

SInce we have the world's largest tuba how about the world's largest tuba player? :D :tuba:
tubamirum
bugler
bugler
Posts: 115
Joined: Mon Feb 21, 2005 8:59 pm
Location: Ma U S A

Re: World's largest tuba

Post by tubamirum »

The Harvard tuba is in the Harvard band building.
it was fun playing with some of you guys
User avatar
J.c. Sherman
6 valves
6 valves
Posts: 2116
Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2005 1:11 pm
Location: Cleveland
Contact:

Re: World's largest tuba

Post by J.c. Sherman »

Art Hovey wrote:Here's another shot of the Harvard tuba, taken at the NERTEC at UMass a few years ago:

The yellow label makes me wonder if Mr. Sherman has his photos mixed up.
Yup - oops, my photos are mislabled again. There's a CF picture in this %^#$ thing somewhere - I promise it's the same horn : )
Instructor of Tuba & Euphonium, Cleveland State University
Principal Tuba, Firelands Symphony Orchestra
President, Variations in Brass
http://www.jcsherman.net
User avatar
iiipopes
Utility Infielder
Utility Infielder
Posts: 8580
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2005 1:10 am

Re: World's largest tuba

Post by iiipopes »

tofu wrote:SInce we have the world's largest tuba how about the world's largest tuba player? :D :tuba:
Bill Bell, of course!
Jupiter JTU1110
"Real" Conn 36K
Mcordon1
bugler
bugler
Posts: 169
Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2009 1:30 am
Location: Boston, MA

Re: World's largest tuba

Post by Mcordon1 »

iiipopes wrote:
tofu wrote:SInce we have the world's largest tuba how about the world's largest tuba player? :D :tuba:
Bill Bell, of course!
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
~Boston, MA
User avatar
circusboy
4 valves
4 valves
Posts: 672
Joined: Wed Mar 08, 2006 6:15 pm
Location: City of Angels

Re: World's largest tuba

Post by circusboy »

Here's one I just came across . . . .

Image
User avatar
Wyvern
Wessex Tubas
Wessex Tubas
Posts: 5033
Joined: Fri Sep 01, 2006 7:00 pm
Location: Hampshire, England when not travelling around the world on Wessex business
Contact:

Re: World's largest tuba

Post by Wyvern »

I went and saw the B&H BBb at the Horniman Museum in London on Friday.

Interesting that if it was playable, it would have to be operated by a left handed giant :roll:
User avatar
J.c. Sherman
6 valves
6 valves
Posts: 2116
Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2005 1:11 pm
Location: Cleveland
Contact:

Re: World's largest tuba

Post by J.c. Sherman »

That's awesome, Neptune!!!

Now... where's the fourth?
Instructor of Tuba & Euphonium, Cleveland State University
Principal Tuba, Firelands Symphony Orchestra
President, Variations in Brass
http://www.jcsherman.net
Post Reply