Joining An Octoberfest Band-Suggestions!

[roughrider]

I have been asked to join an Octoberfest style band. The band has one tuba already, an e-flat. I have never played this style of music before so among the experts present, what suggestions do you have? There is music to play from however that is about all I know for right now. As well, I do not play e-flat so would a BBb tuba be appropriate here? Any and all help appreciated! Thanks!

[DonShirer]

Haben Sie gehört das Deutsche band?

From my very few experiences with a German-style band, the pieces they play rarely need music. Just wing it with the Eb, it'll be easier to tote than a Bb.

Oh, and if they want you to wear lederhosen, be careful not to tighten the suspenders too much.

[roughrider]

I should have clarified that I can play CC tuba or BBb, the E flat is played by someone else already in the band!

[roughrider]

How about my King "Symphony" Recording Bass from 1935? Seriously, would that be a decent fit or should I have an upright horn?

[eupher61]

If you'd have a look at printed parts from German concert bands that specialize in Oktoberfest-type music, you'd find many of the charts have bass and contrabass parts printed. There are many bands that do read. Having two tubas not reading would be rather a clustermuggle.

[roughrider]

I now know that the parts are printed out so there will be no "freestyling" as it were.

[TubaSteve]

These folks play with one BBb and one CC horn. Pretty hard to beat a German band from central Wisconsin! http://dorfkapelle.com/" target="_blank

Steve

[Dan Schultz]

I play with The Rhein Valley Brass at our local Germania Mannerchor Club. I've been with them for going on twenty years. We read music. When I first started with them I played a large Eb along side an older fellow who also played Eb. He had played with the group since it's origin about thirty-five years ago. Having two tubas worked very well. About five years in, I switched to BBb. Since many of the parts were written divisi... that worked REALLY well.

Take whatever horn you want and go for it. You'll have a great time!

[Yane]

There are usually two tuba parts, one high one low, and while you can get by with only the low, having two adds a lot to this music ( the upper part is often in fifths or fourths with the bottom).

[TubaRay]

Just read the parts they give you. I believe a BBb would likely be best, since the other tuba player is likely playing the upper line. Depending on the venue, the recording bell could work quite well. Have fun!

[Polkahero]

I play tuba in a band just like this. Most of the songs are in flat keys (Bb, Eb, F, etc.) so the Bb would be your best bet. The tuba parts are nearly always in octaves. Your partner on the Eb should take the upper octaves. Good luck!

[tubeast]

I´ll second (or fifth or whatever) the BBb-suggestion.
In case Your band actually represents a mixture of Bavarian, Bohemian, Austrian and other mid-European styles, more often than not Your parts will be divided in octave parallels. Most of this original literature will be written in keys of two or more flats.

The low tuba part will provide the bass, while the higher tuba part, written in octaves, will add color and close the large gap between tenor horns and tuba, soundwise.

Using a BBb rather than a CC tuba for the low part will make life easier during about 75% of band operation.
Using an F or a rotary Eb rather than a big britsh style EEb will be beneficial to connecting the bass to the voices of oval baritones and tenors.

If You have access to both BBb and CC, just try out both horns and see for Yourself what works best in Your band´s particular situation.

Cheers Hans

[barry grrr-ero]

I play yearly in a 20 piece Oktoberfest Band. If the parts are printed, go with that unless the other tuba player deviates from the printed page a lot and the band leader is happy with what they're doing. If that's the case, then try to listen to the band first in an effort to copy what that player is doing. We have to do that in our band when one of the tuba player switches to the electric bass for the more 'rock' and swing type tunes (after eveyone's good and drunk).

In polkas, waltzes and Schottisches (Rheinlanders), our director - who's the accordion player - likes the tubas to be in the lower octave, but keep the quarter notes really, REALLY short also. That requires us to be right on top of the beat - not anticipating, but not playing behind either. Therefore, we're trained to listen to the bass drum and play right exactly with that bass drum. It's a bit trickier than it sounds because we're heavily miked and there's a lot of noise. But it can be done.

I'm not suggesting to do any of these things, but just informing you of what works in our band. The point is to be flexible and try to do what pleases the band leader. If he/she is happy with a lot of 'wingin' it', then so be it.

[Walter Webb]

I have The Hungry Five and the Carol Butts arrangements, but where, oh where can I find more arrangements of "OomPah" music in print?