CSO Prokofiev 5 last week, what model tuba...

[Evil Ronnie]

TubeNet,

I asttended last Sunday's Beyond the Score program at Orchestra Hall in Chicago. Gene Pokorny sounded brilliant as usual, but wasn't playing the York. This horn seemed huge, taller bell, just very large. Our seats were back in the orchestra section, so I didn't get a look at the valves...guessing rotary.

Who has the inside info on what axe this was? We attend often, and I do see Gene playing an F from time to time, but mostly the York.

Thanks in advance,

Ron Rosenbaum CEC
U.S. Army Field Band of Washington, D.C.
Class of 1979

[Wyvern]

It may well have been the Meinl-Weston piston Fafner 195/5P which I believe Gene advised on its development. It has been said that Prokofiev 5 works best on BBb, so not surprising if he as using.

[joshwirt]

It was the MW 195/5P. He has been playing it quite extensively with the CSO for some time now, but still plays the York...sometimes switching between the 2 on the same program as he did last week on Tchaik 6!

[Bob Kolada]

Any pictures or videos of him playing it? Why did he choose that instead of the rotary horn (if one were going to go with a German Bb, why not a rotary German Bb to maximize it?)?
For the heck of it, here's a picture I found on the trombone forum of Charlie playing his odd horn, which I believe Ron posted (boy do I want to hear him on that and Gene on his MW!)-

[NDSPTuba]

Any pictures or videos of him playing it? Why did he choose that instead of the rotary horn (if one were going to go with a German Bb, why not a rotary German Bb to maximize it?)?
For the heck of it, here's a picture I found on the trombone forum of Charlie playing his odd horn, which I believe Ron posted (boy do I want to hear him on that and Gene on his MW!)-

The rotary 195 doesn't come with a 5th valve. So that might play into his decision making.

[Dave Y]

I saw the CSO Brass concert back in December, and Gene was using both the York and this mystery horn (although now that I'm looking at it, this piston 195 looks like it). It was great to hear the different colors coming from the two horns, although I noticed a tendency to use the 195 on choice low sections (Romeo and Juliet, Lincolnshire Posy). Those ROCKED!

The whole night, Gene and Tony Kniffen were phenomenal.

My $0.02

[mammoth2ba]

The rotary 195 doesn't come with a 5th valve. So that might play into his decision making.

According to the Meinl-Weston website:

http://www.melton.de/" target="_blank

Click the BBb tubas link, then the Fafner/195 link, then the "show options" button:

The rotary Fafner/195 is available with:
"• detachable 5th valve with lever, to be inserted into the 4th valve slide"

Same option is indicated on the Fasolt/196 page.

I'd be interested to see a photo of the detachable 5th valve w/lever if somebody has a Fafner or Fasolt with that option.

[Uncle Buck]

Bloke, weren't you "hinting" a few months ago about some unnamed pro who was planning to use a MW BBb tuba on Prok. 5th?