The Ralph Vaughan Williams Tuba Concerto...

[SousaSaver]

http://sousacentral.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog-post.html

I wrote a little bit about it. If you can think of anything I have left out, let me know.

Let me know what you think!

[Art Hovey]

You might want to mention the first performance in the USA. Harvey Phillips was supposed to do it, but had a schedule conflict and passed it on to Bill Bell. Bell had the King factory make him an F tuba just for the occasion. There is a CD of that performance, with extensive liner notes which you might wish to quote. I have a copy somewhere.
-Art-
http://galvanizedjazz.com/tuba.html

[SousaSaver]

Is that particular recording commercially available or does it travel in bootleg circles?

[J.c. Sherman]

In defense of the King Eb Sousa, I had one that has caused me to dent my shin bone, kicking myself for ever selling it. The wrap-around style Bell (and I) used was a very, very good Eb tuba, and the pitch was quite good. Can't speak to the F, but the Other post-war Ebs I've tried have playable scales; the sousaphone was the best of them though; the monster the worst.

J.c.S.