Building a Tenor Tuba

[tylerferris1213]

Hello Everyone! My university orchestra is playing Pictures at an Exhibition for the next concert. I'm taking the safe route and using my euphonium instead of my F tuba for Bydlo, even though there is a definite timbre difference (my euphonium takes a small shank mouthpiece and the bore is fairly small.

I know you can buy tenor tubas from various instrument makers, but has anyone tried making their own? I'd be interested to know the process. I work at an instrument shop, and I have always had a desire to tinker with things.

[DouglasJB]

I'd like to make my own one day with 5 rotary valves, but it'll be a while. I'd like to hear how people would do it.

[Bob Kolada]

I'd like to see the Chinese importers put the oval euph valve set (.590) in a 5 or 4+2 setup on the comp euph's body.

[tylerferris1213]

My dream tenor tuba would be pitched in C with 5 valves in the right hand. Pistons or rotors don't make much of a difference to me. I don't want it to sound like the "French" C tuba, though. Those are more bright than I'd want mine to be.

[Art Hovey]

If you have the chops for it (I don't) Bydlo works very well on a 3-piston Eb tuba.

[PaulMaybery]

Willson now has a Bb Saxhorn on the market. I understand it is compensating and does resemble the "French Tuba." Being compensating it does not really have the need for 5 valves, or 6 as in on the C French tuba.

http://www.willson.ch/sites/default/fil ... SAX_en.pdf" target="_blank

In one of the first performances of the Mussorgsky/Ravel "Pictures" Bydlo was performed on the "French Tuba" in Bb. (Saxhorn Basse in Si Be mol) I understand from an old friend and student of the player himself that it was Fernand LeLong, whose name appears on several French etude collections. That friend of mine in Europe still plays his Bb Courtois frequently in small brass ensembles such as quartets. I have played it, though probably 30 years ago. The choke of the bell is a bit stockier than most euphoniums and the mp, at least the one with it, was more "bass-like" than a traditional euphonium mp. (More like a large Bass Trombone.) My take is that it is the mp that renders the sound a bit heftier than the euphonium sound. The euphonium and french tuba are really not that all different, especially when we consider those large bells on some of the modern euphs out there. MW comes to mind.

I would like to second Blokes opinion on using a contrabass trombone mp to get closer to the French tuba sound on the euph. (or even just a large Bass Trombone piece) I have tried that and it does make a significant change in timbre.

I'm doing the Berlioz "Romeo and Juliet" next month and have decided the euph is much better suited to the ophicleide part than my large F tuba.

One particular manufacturer has a prototype of a Bombardon (early 19th century-style valved ophicleide) that is planned to come out later this winter. I understand from correspondence that it will likely be in F with the bell and bottom bow of the ophicleide.
This should take care of Berlioz and Mendelssohn. But the Saxhorn/French Tuba (or euph) is IMHO the best choice for Bydlo. After all it is what Ravel wrote for.

[Scubatuba]

Courtois AC366: The timbre is is quite different than a euph- a little brighter, cleaner, more french horn like. Very lushin the concert hall, and in the right hands!

[PaulMaybery]

A beautiful instrument, the Bb Saxhorn. I believe the French tuba is a size larger however, but in a similar configuration.
I remember a year back, Wessex had offered one very similar to the photo in the previous post, when I had inquired about, I learned that it had been discontinued, apparently for intonation issues. From the dimensions it was of a more tenor/baritone quality of voice timbre. To some tastes perhaps a bit light for "Bydlo".
Perhaps Jonathan at Wessex has plans to eventually tweak the saxhorn as they have some of their other horns and re-offer it down the line.

[Tom]

I seem to recall that the Chicago Symphony did a "Beyond the Score" program several years back on Pictures at an Exhibition. One of the things that was done, if I am remembering this correctly, was a discussion of Bydlo, the sort of instrument intended vs. usually played, performance tradition, etc., etc. I believe that the Chicago Symphony borrowed the instrument used for the US Premier of Pictures from Gary Ofenloch in Utah, who owns it.

Ok, found the info I was looking for:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=29737

Perhaps a PM to Northern or to Bydloman could yield some interesting information or photos.

[Donn]

From the dimensions it was of a more tenor/baritone quality of voice timbre. To some tastes perhaps a bit light for "Bydlo".

Well, maybe "lean" would be a better word. This quartet plays instruments that I believe aren't identical, but not sure how exactly they vary. I personally think some of these tonalities would hold up pretty well compared to a euphonium.
Ruslan and Ludmila Ouverture
Anton Weber's Langsamer Satz