Epic Sousaphone battle - not like most of the others!

[David Richoux]

Not just a blatfest - these smaller sections really work up some interesting things (while still being very loud!)
Go through it all the way - they even work in some Classical riffs and have some sweet tones!
http://youtu.be/ifd9bylX7xU

[Dan Schultz]

Well.... ok.

[Untersatz]

This is pretty good if you think a sousaphone should sound like a BIG kazoo

[groovlow]

Who needs a cimbasso??? after hearing these guys!
These guys are expanding the tuba world.
In x amount of time this could THE sought after POWER sound for hollywood composers.
Joe

[tofu]

reality:

I send stuff like this to friends via email.

100% of professional musicians who I send stuff like this to via email react positively. ..."That is soooooo AWESOME !!!"...etc.

and how many then go out and emulate it?

[ppalan]

I don't know about anyone else, but I heard some real music going on there. Sometimes I just don't get it. There was a thread just a little while ago ( viewtopic.php?f=2&t=61530 ) about 20th century music being played by a group including a tuba. Every one of the comments (admittedly there were not a lot) was positive. ...great to see this important, serious music being performed..., etc, etc. There seems to be a double standard when it come to acceptance. Honestly, given a choice of listening to the selections by Reich, Stockhausen, et al or the sousaphones, I'd choose the sousaphones without hesitation. Yes it's loud. (mostly but not entirely) Yes it's (OMG) "pop music" Yes it's in a gym but so what. I don't think those guys took what they were doing any less seriously than the ensemble playing "Pendulum" by Reich. They were obviously well rehearsed, competent. (both ensembles) IMHO you just sometimes have get below the surface veneer and listen with an open mind and not discount something just because it doesn't fit in our, often self-imposed , frame. As far as what impression are "we" giving the audience about how tubas "should" sound, I'll bet if you ask the staunchest supporters/audience of a symphony they won't say "Oh just like that beautiful little line in Prelude to Tristan und Isolde or the solo in Rivueltas (?sp) Sensemaya. They'll probably come up with some reference to a March or an Oom-Pah band...if they come up with anything at all. I also don't think this audience was uninvolved either. (well except maybe for one young lady on her tablet) The sound clips associated with the "20th century" music" seemed to have the audience (although not seen) chatting away during the entire performance. (I don't have any idea what the setting actually was since it was only a sound clip) Anyway, sorry for the rant. Bottom line... I enjoyed listening to the sousaphones more than I enjoyed listening to the other music. I don't want a steady diet of it but then sometimes I don't want to listen to Mozart (or___________ fill in the blank) either.
Pete

[nycbone]

**********

[k001k47]

Just imagine how a "Trumpet Battle" ssounds.

EDIT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4GA8Cx8qgA

I wonder if there are triangle battles

[nycbone]

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[Wayne Rice]

I have two degrees in performance. (Michigan and Manhattan School). And I've played with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and once with the San Diego Symphony Pops, as well as a lot of experience playing in brass quintets over the last 30+ years, but most of my work now is on the sousaphone, on which I'll probably play at least 50 paying gigs this year. (A strange and wonderful trip . . ., but I digress.) I certainly play nowhere near as loud as these young fellas, although I probably could . . . for about five minutes.

That said, I thought this was awesome! The sound may not be the "musical norm" that most of us seek on the tuba, but that sound is not what is called for in this particular art form. Listen to the last chord of the first tune. Really something.

Those guys are justifiably proud of what they do. I'd be proud to hear my son (or daughter) in a group like that.

[Tuboss2]

Y'all(well most of yall) know my position on Sousa sound. I think this type of sound is freakin' amazing. I've worked up my chops over the past couple of years and I my self am able to play this loud for a long time. Anyways, gotta love anybody playing the Tuba. Weather it be a battle or the Chicago Symphony. It's Tuba playing, one way or the other.

[Tubaryan12]

The discipline, dedication, and teamwork required to put on performances such as these--from memory in a competitive environment--will serve these young men well regardless of what profession they enter and regardless of whether they play tuba ever again or not.

Yep.

And when's the last time a crowd of people listened to 18 straight minutes of TUBA MUSIC???

...and cheered.

Heyyyyyyyyyy, Tuskegee...........

[bigtubby]

Just imagine how a "Trumpet Battle" ssounds.

EDIT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4GA8Cx8qgA

I wonder if there are triangle battles

I prefer this "battle" more:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMG7vjwZiOM

(note Paul's circular breathing for most of the first minute)

[dmmorris]

Those sousa-tunes?,....I dig 'em! Thanks for sharing.

Yo Bloke - if your gonna engrave that picture of Slim ridding the Bomb on a mouthpiece, I'm buying.