What commercial recordings have the tuba play Bydlo?

[JB]

...Torchinsky with Philadelphia under Ormandy?

I am not aware of Mr Torchinsky ever performing Bydlo, and recall chatting with Henry Charles Smith and him recalling it was always performed by a trombonist on euph during Mr Torchinsky's tenure. Is there a documented exception to this recollection of his section-mate?

[Rick Denney]

I live in Texas. I've heard the Pictures played twice. San Antonio Symphony with Lee Hipp. According to some of his students he was playing on a tenor tuba, but in my youth it looked like an F tuba.

Early in Lee's tenure in San Antonio, he used a Yamaha 621 F tuba. It may have been '93 or '94 when he moved on from that instrument, I think maybe a Gronitz. That 621 looked pretty small on the Majestic stage.

In those days, Lee was providing play-test services for Orpheus Music, who was the Miraphone importer at the time, in addition to being an early post-unification importer of VMI and Meinl-Weston. Miraphone had a rotary "baryton" at the time that was similar in distant appearance to an Alex 151. I'd be happy to have one of those in my hands if required to play the Bydlo.

Rick "who has stories about Austin, too" Denney

[kprinz]

Early in Lee's tenure in San Antonio, he used a Yamaha 621 F tuba. It may have been '93 or '94 when he moved on from that instrument, I think maybe a Gronitz. That 621 looked pretty small on the Majestic stage.

In those days, Lee was providing play-test services for Orpheus Music, who was the Miraphone importer at the time, in addition to being an early post-unification importer of VMI and Meinl-Weston. Miraphone had a rotary "baryton" at the time that was similar in distant appearance to an Alex 151. I'd be happy to have one of those in my hands if required to play the Bydlo.

I think this performance would have been later than the early 90's...my guess would be early 1999-2002? As I recall the instrument was a german style instrument. I remember being shocked when whoever I was talking to told me it was a tenor tuba because it roughly the size and shape of the F tubas I'd encountered and it sounded like an F tuba to me...but the guy was very adamant so I took him at his word. I always wondered though...If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck....It's a tenor tuba?

[Mr. Nesmith]

I remember when I was at CSU Long Beach in the late 70's. Randy Anglin was the tuba player with the Long Beach Symphony. He played ALL of Pictures on his Alexander Kaiser CC… even Bydlo and absolutely nailed it! Randy has this unique ability to shift about half of his embouchure out of the MP and play up into the stratosphere! It was an amazing performance and Randy's Bydlo solo sounded magnificent! And all of it on that huge tuba!!

Bob

[Pete Link]

Check out the Cincinnati Symphony recording with Paavo Jarvi. Pete Link plays a FANTASTIC Bydlo!

I appreciate the kind words, Carson. That was a fun one! Mark Ridenour sounded fantastic on those concerts and the recording session.

I believe that the 1991 NY Phil recording conducted by Sinopoli (Deutsche Grammophon) has Warren Deck playing Bydlo on an F.

I might be wrong though...

Correct. Alexander F tuba for Bydlo. One of my favorite Bydlo Recordings. One of my favorite recordings of the entire work as well.

Check out the Cincinnati Symphony recording with Paavo Jarvi. Pete Link plays a FANTASTIC Bydlo!

I heard this recording once and really liked the interpretation a lot (will be the next CD I buy when I have $$$). I know he did it in a live performance on F tuba, is this the case on this recording. Since a friend played it for me, I didn't take the time to analyze sound color between tuba and euphonium. Is Pete Link playing it on F tuba in this recording?

Thanks for the interest. I borrowed Floyd Cooley's Alexander F to use on those concerts and recording. It worked out quite well.

In reference to the NYP recording, I believe the released version was done on a MW 45s. At least this is what was told to me by the former student of his who now owns(owned?) the horn. I imagine there are a few of his former NY students on the forum who can chime in here.

Cheers

Pete

[Aaron Tindall]

Warren mentioned that he used his Alex on that recording, and also that the hall's heating system was failing all day with the average temp on the stage at around the 60 degree mark...talk about a nail biter to play that on a cold horn!

[Wyvern]

LA had one in the 70's that sounded like Mr. Bobo playing an F, in spectacular fashion.

Mr. Bobo did play the solo but he played his Alexander tenor tuba.

Norm

Would Mr. Bobo have used his tenor tuba mouthpiece? The one with tuba size rim to fit in tenor tubas