Begräbnisgesang

[Steve Marcus]

This choral funeral hymn by Brahms was composed in 1858, fairly early in his career and early in the history of actual tubas. The composer's manuscript does, somewhat surprisingly, say Tuba, not ophecleide nor serpent. Therefore, relying upon a simply HIP (Historically Informed Performance) perspective may not be sufficient to determine which horn to use.

The instrumentation, along with the chorus, is rather unusual: 2 oboes, 2 clarinets (B♭), 2 bassoons, 2 horns (E♭), 3 trombones, tuba, timpani. No strings, not even string bass. So it is the tuba, sometimes in octaves or unison with the 3rd trombone, that carries the bass line through the heavier passages while bassoon assumes that role in other sections of the piece.

The range is from B♭ below the staff up to A♭ at the top of the staff. Dynamic indications for the tuba and all other participants extend from pp to f; tuba plays a forte low C at one point in the score.

Given the fairly small instrumental ensemble and the caveat not to drown out the chorus on this or other choral pieces, a 6/4 anything seems way out of the question if for no other reason than the more massive horns didn't "make the scene" until much later with Wagner, Bruckner, etc. Although Brahms writes no indication of pesante or similar designation, his Tempo di Marcia funebre would imply some sense of grave (pun intended).

So, let's assume that a non-brass-playing conductor is not put off by a somewhat larger horn merely due to its visual implications. Would you play a 4/4 or 3/4 contrabass, or a bass tuba...or does it simply depend upon YOUR sound on a particular instrument for this type of composition?

[iiipopes]

1858? I'd say a moderate bore F or even Eb tuba. Others will correct me, but it is my understanding that BBb tubas only came at the end of the 19th century. The bores were smaller and the bells then did not have as much flare, so the tone can be a little bit understated as compared to what we think of as "modern" tuba tone.

[imperialbari]

The instrumentation looks like the one of a small battalion band of the period with the trumpets oddly being absent. Maybe the band of the firemen in Hamburg.

A period 5 valve F tuba could have played the said range.

If CC, then a small one with a clear upper range.

Klaus

[Donn]

In contrast to bloke, my own circumstances couldn't be irrelevant at all here, but I cheated and listened to a bit of a recording, and - I like it a lot - what I heard strikes me as a an orchestral rendition of a pipe organ. If that helps.

[TheBerlinerTuba]

Dear Steve,

If I had to play this piece and if the entire group were using original instruments, I would probably use something like one of these two F tubas. Both are from the 1850-60s when the piece was written. The Berliner was made by E.Paulus (in Berlin) and the Cerveny is one their very first tubas.
Both would probably fit in the bell of a 6/4 C tuba...

Have fun with the Brahms!

Regards,
2165

[Steve Marcus]

If I had to play this piece and if the entire group were using original instruments, I would probably use something like one of these two F tubas. Both are from the 1850-60s when the piece was written.

Thanks very much for the thoughtful response and photos. However, this performance will be with modern instruments.

Steve

[iiipopes]

Every instrument has it's authenticity geeks!

Isn't that the truth! Especially rock-n-roll "tribute" bands!

[TheBerlinerTuba]

Last movement of Beethoven's 5th Symphony with original instruments:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7GbYV1vcps

[Bob Kolada]

I don't know the piece, but (assuming a good low C) how about a euphonium also?

[Matt Good]

So, let's assume that a non-brass-playing conductor is not put off by a somewhat larger horn merely due to its visual implications.

Steve,

You are giving the conductor too much credit. I have yet to come across any conductor who has given a damn what kind of tuba that I am using and during the past 25 years or so that I have been a professional tubist, I have never had a conductor tell me to use a different piece of equipment.

With that said, if this piece of repertoire was on some church-gig that I would normally be doing here in the Dallas area, I would be using an F tuba.

-Matt

[Wyvern]

I would definitely go for F tuba if possible (or Eb otherwise). Remember up until Wagner Ring, the F tuba was the standard in German orchestras.

[imperialbari]

http://www.musikmph.de/musical_scores/vorworte/387.html

[swillafew]

Another thread here had me going to an orchestration book, which said: "the performer decides which horn to play", and instructed the arranger or conductor to be unconcerned about it. This would make sense in Mr. Good's perspective.