The "standard" tuba in German orchestras?

[ppalan]

I'm not sure what kind of tuba it is but the player is Tom Walsh, an American from Philadelphia, PA. I wouldn't be surprised if it was some kind of a Nirschl from Geretsried which is only about 45 minutes from Munich.

Pete

[Bill Troiano]

I knew Tom from when we both studied with Harvey at IU. He played a Marzan back then, but I thought it had rotary valves. Did Marzan make a piston valve tuba?

[J.c. Sherman]

I was thinking Marzan too... and they made amazing piston tubas!

[Wyvern]

Here's the 'exception that proves the rule'. Who can identify the horn?

http://youtu.be/DeMmauRMbts" target="_blank" target="_blank

There is a good shot of the tuba at 5:35

I was amazed when I went to concert in Munich to see 6/4 CC being played in the Philharmonic Orchestra - then it was either a Nirschl, or Yorkbrunner.

It looked rather strange when there was work using two tubas and he was joined by presumably German player with what looked like a MW 25 BBb - the two tubas one short and fat, the other tall and slim

[bort]

Here's the 'exception that proves the rule'. Who can identify the horn?

http://youtu.be/DeMmauRMbts" target="_blank" target="_blank

There is a good shot of the tuba at 5:35

The leadpipe angle says Nirschl to me, but I can't tell much about the rest of the tuba. Doesn't look like a Marzan.

Also interesting that this video is almost 30 years old (yikes )...is that kind of around when new 6/4 BATs were starting to be designed/built?

[Rick Denney]

Here's the 'exception that proves the rule'. Who can identify the horn?

http://youtu.be/DeMmauRMbts" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

There is a good shot of the tuba at 5:35

Cellibidache was such an amazing conductor. Too bad he hated recordings--there is not much out there with him.

The tuba is not a 6/4, nor do I think it is a Marzan--I don't see the main slide pointed up. But it sure could have been made by Boehm and Meinl before Nirschl came along. My York Master is similar. My YM dates at least from the 60's, and it is likely they were trying to compete in the US market, mainly against King. The piston valves are superb. The most recent version is the B&M Symphonic 5500--a large 4/4 or 5/4.

Rick "not all B&M's are Marzans, and not all Marzans are B&M's" Denney

[eupher61]

pretty nasty intonation in the reeds though...sheesh!

[eupher61]

It is a CC tuba. Interesting. Piston HB? That would have been about the time they were first out in pistons, right? Great performance, aside from the nasty winds.

Who has Tom Walsh's email address? Since firm ID has been made, how about going to the source?

[eupher61]

was the B&M 5500 only BBb? The tuba in the video is a CC. I looked at the fingers...

[J.c. Sherman]

The tuba is not a 6/4, nor do I think it is a Marzan--I don't see the main slide pointed up. But it sure could have been made by Boehm and Meinl before Nirschl came along. My York Master is similar.

You're right, of course; sometimes B&M and Marzan get interchangable in my head... all someone had to say was "Marzan"...

I need a drink.

J.c.S.

[Steve Marcus]

I'd love to try a Hilgers... but I have a feeling I'd have to own one after that. Is there even one example in the US?

The smaller(!) MW/Melton 195 and 196 BBb horns have quickly grown in popularity, even among US orchestral players, since their introduction.

But has anyone played a 197/198 for any length of time with a North American orchestra? Does anyone in North America own one?

[Ulli]

I know that German tuba players overwhelmingly use BBb and F tubas in their orchestras.
Are there particular makes/models that are clearly more popular than others?

No, here are no particular brands/models in use.
US- tubas (Conn, King) are rare, CC very rare.
Mostly we play R. Meinl, Miraphone, Melton, B&S (Weltklang), Cerveny, Alexander... mostly in BBb and F, sometimes in EEb.

Best Regards from Germany

Ulli