Question about the Greats: Bell, Phillips et al

Sandlapper · Post by **Sandlapper** » Thu Jun 11, 2015 11:06 am

Did any of the great players from the past use a recording bell tuba in the orchestra or the pit for theater or ballet during performances? I have seen pictures of Mr. Phillips with a smaller recording bell tuba and it got me wondering.

Billy M. · Post by **Billy M.** » Thu Jun 11, 2015 12:46 pm

It seems that half the time I see pictures of Bill Bell it is with a recording-bell tuba or sousaphone. I have to assume there was at least a decent bit of work he did using one.

eupher61 · Post by **eupher61** » Thu Jun 11, 2015 6:20 pm

I would suppose Joe Tarto did.

EdFirth · Post by **EdFirth** » Thu Jun 11, 2015 6:54 pm

Fred Pfaff too.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Thu Jun 11, 2015 8:19 pm

KiltieTuba wrote:Who won their orchestra gig on an Eb sousaphone? Was it Bell or Jacobs?

Are you thinking of Jacobs' audition for Curtis?

GC · Post by GC » Thu Jun 11, 2015 11:08 pm

It's been reported here that Bell's favorite horn was an Eb sousaphone that was a present from his mother.

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Fri Jun 12, 2015 9:06 am

"Chief" Kuhn played a sousaphone on the old "horn" recordings because the nature of double bass is diffuse, and did not record well. I don't know if that transferred over to any performances or not.

It would seem to me that being in the pit would be the antithesis of that: wanting the sound to come out of the pit to disperse to the stage and audience.

Donn · Post by **Donn** » Fri Jun 12, 2015 9:52 am

Google 'king "pit tuba"'

Combination forward bell and periscope.

Orchestra, though? Sure, everyone used to play forward bell tubas, but so far I haven't seen anything in this thread to make me think they brought them to the orchestra.

Sandlapper · Post by **Sandlapper** » Fri Jun 12, 2015 11:55 am

Thank you Donn. Your observation speaks to the heart of the question. I was wondering if the recording bells were used in actual performances indoors be it from the pit or the stage.

Z-Tuba Dude · Post by **Z-Tuba Dude** » Fri Jun 12, 2015 2:06 pm

I don't know if it means anything, but in the original Fantasia, there is the silhouette of a SOUSAPHONE in the orchestra!

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Question about the Greats: Bell, Phillips et al

Question about the Greats: Bell, Phillips et al

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