Census

[Alex C]

My wife, a euphoniumist, and I had an argument. She says there are more euphonium players than there are tuba players. I disagree, I think there are more tuba players. I need an official answer.

Your opinion of the official answer is appreciated.

Thanks.

[windshieldbug]

More tuba players.

And let's face it, the odds there being the "exact same number" accross the entire world MUST be astronomical.

"About the same number" has a much better chance...

[mammoth2ba]

In most, if not all, of the bands I've ever played in (quite a few), euphoniums have outnumbered tubas.

I hope you and your wife never have anything more serious to "argue" about!

[Michael Bush]

I have never been in a band in which the tubas did not equal or outnumber the euphoniums.

[Donn]

What's a "euphonium"? is it that keyboard thing that the Hare Krishnas play?

[Alex C]

Parked under our carport are FOUR vehicles. Inside the house are THREE large weaving looms.

The vehicles are used regularly, if not daily. The weaving looms sit, take up space, and are rarely used for anything.

In spite of the fact that there are FOUR vehicles and only THREE weaving looms, it SEEMS AS THOUGH there are MORE weaving looms than vehicles...

...Does that answer your question?

Is this an existentialist question? I only passed the music courses.

[Tuba-G Bass]

Of the two Concert Bands I play in,
it's either equal or more on the Euphonium side.
Bethlehem Municipal Band brass
8 trumpets
4 Horns
3 Tbones
1 Bass Tbone
2 Euphs
2 Tubas

Easton Municipal Band brass
8 trumpets
3 horns
3 Tbones
3 Euphs
1 Tuba

[imperialbari]

"I SEE EVERYTHING TWICE!"


But it takes somme mirror to let you se more than half.










(ref?)

[LOTP]

West Morris Concert Band: 3 euphs, 1 tuba
Whitehouse Wind Symphony: 2 euphs, 3 tubas
Raritan Valley Symphonic Band: 3 euphs, 7 tubas
American Weldery Band: 1 euph, 1-3 tubas
NJ Workshop for the Arts: 3 euphs, 3 tubas
Sharpshooters Band: 2 euphs, 2-3 tubas

All of the above numbers subject to change depending on availability, weather, phase of the moon, etc.

[Donn]

West Morris Concert Band: 3 euphs, 1 tuba
Whitehouse Wind Symphony: 2 euphs, 3 tubas
[... etc.]

But ... would it be fair to say, euphonium players play only in bands like that? While tuba players find other places to play? How many euphoniums in your classic jazz band, in your polka band, etc.?

[Dan Schultz]

Did anyone bother to post a similar poll on the tuba-euphonium web site?

[Kevin Hendrick]

Parked under our carport are FOUR vehicles. Inside the house are THREE large weaving looms.

The vehicles are used regularly, if not daily. The weaving looms sit, take up space, and are rarely used for anything.

In spite of the fact that there are FOUR vehicles and only THREE weaving looms, it SEEMS AS THOUGH there are MORE weaving looms than vehicles...

...Does that answer your question?

Is this an existentialist question? I only passed the music courses.

More of a textile-tentialist question. "Is a puzzlement": you'd think that the less the looms move, the less room they'd take ... in fact, as they weave more, they don't loom as large (works even better if you keep them on the weft side of the houfe ... sorry ... house). And that's enough spin for now -- I'd better stop woofin' before things get even more warped than they already are ...

[Wyvern]

In concert bands the balance is unclear, but when you consider brass bands (4 tubas against 2 euphonium), brass quintets (tuba and usually no euph) and orchestras (only tuba) - there must be more tubas!

I wonder which instrument the techs/repairers see most of in their shops?

[Lew]

Parked under our carport are FOUR vehicles. Inside the house are THREE large weaving looms.

The vehicles are used regularly, if not daily. The weaving looms sit, take up space, and are rarely used for anything.

In spite of the fact that there are FOUR vehicles and only THREE weaving looms, it SEEMS AS THOUGH there are MORE weaving looms than vehicles...

...Does that answer your question?

Joe,

This is one of the first threads that perked up my wife's interest. She is a spinner and weaver and says if you ever need to make space by getting rid of a loom she would be happy to help.


I have been in bands where tubas have outnumbered euphs and vice versa. The current band in which I play has 2-4 tubas depending on the season and 6-8 or more euphonia. When I was in the West Morris Concert Band I was the only tuba with at least 2 euphs and as many as 4. In the Richmond concert band I was one of 3-7 tubas over the years while we had between 2-4 euphs, yet I was the only tuba in the Henrico Community band with 2-4 euphs. So about half of the time tubas have outnumbered euphoniums.

That said, while I suspect that in high school bands in the US there are typically more "baritones" than tubas, I suspect that by the time they get to college there are more tuba players because there are limited playing opportunities for someone who is a euphonium major, although I guess more common is a "low brass" major.

[cjk]

I always thought there were equal numbers of tuba and euphonium players in the world. I figured that the community band participation difference was due mostly to community bands' propensity to have rehearsals during the food service industry's 'supper hours', therefore there are fewer euphonium players available to participate.

[tbn.al]

Whereas there are many more playing opportunities for tuba than euphonium as referenced in earlier posts:

and the fact that as we age those with fewer opportunities tend to fade away:

The following premeses may apply:

1. There is a greater number of euphonium than tuba players age 12 to 17.
2. There is an equal number of euphonium to tuba players age 17 to 22.
3. There is a lessor number of euphonium than tuba players age 23 to 65.
4. No euphonium players survive age 65. Wait, there is a guy in Atlanta maybe 80.

Yes there is a euphonium within 5 feet of my grasp as I type, but there is also a tuba, four trombones and a trumpet. I am 64 but am hedging my bet.

[Donn]

Weirdly, the only baritone/euphonium players I regularly see are all three at least 70 years old.

And in pretty good shape considering. I suppose the demographics aren't all in the tuba players' favor, considering the classic tuba player physique as a health issue.

[wr4]

"I SEE EVERYTHING TWICE!"













(ref?)

Catch 22, the best book ever written.