Want to hear Herman Conrad back in 1902? Done!
- Dave Detwiler
- bugler
- Posts: 223
- Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2010 9:20 pm
- Location: Harleysville, PA
Want to hear Herman Conrad back in 1902? Done!
Hi all,
As I continue to research Herman Conrad (1867-1920), who I have dubbed "the forgotten giant of the tuba," I have tracked down a Victor recording of him playing a solo (at least that's what they called it) with Sousa's Band in 1902.
Here's the youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi0MK2AErH8
And here's the listing for the recording in a Victor publication from around that time (scroll to the bottom of the list, for recording no. 1446):
Let me know if you hear anything that sheds light on Conrad as a player (although, of course, there is no way his tone can be captured in this old recording).
Enjoy!
Dave
As I continue to research Herman Conrad (1867-1920), who I have dubbed "the forgotten giant of the tuba," I have tracked down a Victor recording of him playing a solo (at least that's what they called it) with Sousa's Band in 1902.
Here's the youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi0MK2AErH8
And here's the listing for the recording in a Victor publication from around that time (scroll to the bottom of the list, for recording no. 1446):
Let me know if you hear anything that sheds light on Conrad as a player (although, of course, there is no way his tone can be captured in this old recording).
Enjoy!
Dave
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Last edited by Dave Detwiler on Wed Aug 03, 2016 2:49 pm, edited 4 times in total.
Played an F. E. Olds 4-valve BBb in high school (late '70s)
Led the USC Trojan Marching Band tuba section (early '80s)
Now playing an F. Schmidt (=VMI) 3301 and goofing around
on a 1927 Pan American 64K Sousaphone Grand
Led the USC Trojan Marching Band tuba section (early '80s)
Now playing an F. Schmidt (=VMI) 3301 and goofing around
on a 1927 Pan American 64K Sousaphone Grand
-
- bugler
- Posts: 160
- Joined: Sat May 08, 2004 8:15 am
Re: Want to hear Herman Conrad back in 1902? Done!
Having performed this work, I believe it is the entire section vs. one player on this part.
-
- FAQ Czar
- Posts: 2338
- Joined: Sat May 08, 2010 2:54 pm
Re: Want to hear Herman Conrad back in 1902? Done!
I thought that too, from listening. And yet the "liner notes" if that is what it is, clearly say it's a solo by Conrad.Frank Byrne wrote:Having performed this work, I believe it is the entire section vs. one player on this part.
- Dave Detwiler
- bugler
- Posts: 223
- Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2010 9:20 pm
- Location: Harleysville, PA
Re: Want to hear Herman Conrad back in 1902? Done!
Keep in mind that the recording was likely done by a subset of Sousa's Band, so there may have only been Conrad on tuba. Victor hadn't yet figured out how to properly record a large ensemble until a number of years later.
Played an F. E. Olds 4-valve BBb in high school (late '70s)
Led the USC Trojan Marching Band tuba section (early '80s)
Now playing an F. Schmidt (=VMI) 3301 and goofing around
on a 1927 Pan American 64K Sousaphone Grand
Led the USC Trojan Marching Band tuba section (early '80s)
Now playing an F. Schmidt (=VMI) 3301 and goofing around
on a 1927 Pan American 64K Sousaphone Grand
- bisontuba
- 6 valves
- Posts: 4319
- Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2004 8:55 am
- Location: Bottom of Lake Erie
-
- 5 valves
- Posts: 1995
- Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2004 11:59 pm
- Location: One toke over the line...
Re: Want to hear Herman Conrad back in 1902? Done!
Absolutely great stuff! We don't value enough these days those who have gone before and whose shoulders we stand on. Thanks for doing this kind of research for the benefit of the greater tuba community.
- Donn
- 6 valves
- Posts: 5977
- Joined: Fri Aug 19, 2005 3:58 pm
- Location: Seattle, ☯
Re: Want to hear Herman Conrad back in 1902? Done!
I thought there was a trombone with him most of the time, but could have been a valved brass.ValveSlide wrote:I hear "soli" and I hear octaves on my little iPad speakers. Fwiw
- Alex C
- pro musician
- Posts: 2225
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 10:34 am
- Location: Cybertexas
Re: Want to hear Herman Conrad back in 1902? Done!
In the picture in the youTube video, there appears to be a contrabass sarrusophone next to the tubas. God help us, a sarrusaphone.
City Intonation Inspector - Dallas Texas
"Holding the Bordognian Fabric of the Universe together through better pitch, one note at a time."
Practicing results in increased atmospheric CO2 thus causing global warming.
"Holding the Bordognian Fabric of the Universe together through better pitch, one note at a time."
Practicing results in increased atmospheric CO2 thus causing global warming.
- Alex C
- pro musician
- Posts: 2225
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 10:34 am
- Location: Cybertexas
Re: Want to hear Herman Conrad back in 1902? Done!
Here is some information on Conrad, who was cited as the first person to play Sousa's sousaphone.
http://tubapastor.blogspot.com/2016/06/ ... onrad.html" target="_blank
http://tubapastor.blogspot.com/2016/06/ ... onrad.html" target="_blank
City Intonation Inspector - Dallas Texas
"Holding the Bordognian Fabric of the Universe together through better pitch, one note at a time."
Practicing results in increased atmospheric CO2 thus causing global warming.
"Holding the Bordognian Fabric of the Universe together through better pitch, one note at a time."
Practicing results in increased atmospheric CO2 thus causing global warming.
- Dave Detwiler
- bugler
- Posts: 223
- Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2010 9:20 pm
- Location: Harleysville, PA
Re: Want to hear Herman Conrad back in 1902? Done!
It's been over a year now since I posted this, and I've continued to collect information about Conrad's life and career in music. I'd love to hear if anyone else out there knows anything about him - or would like to comment on his playing in this recording. I'll be writing my article shortly!
Played an F. E. Olds 4-valve BBb in high school (late '70s)
Led the USC Trojan Marching Band tuba section (early '80s)
Now playing an F. Schmidt (=VMI) 3301 and goofing around
on a 1927 Pan American 64K Sousaphone Grand
Led the USC Trojan Marching Band tuba section (early '80s)
Now playing an F. Schmidt (=VMI) 3301 and goofing around
on a 1927 Pan American 64K Sousaphone Grand
-
- 4 valves
- Posts: 534
- Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 4:33 pm
- Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Re: Want to hear Herman Conrad back in 1902? Done!
Thank you very much for your detailed research regarding Herman Conrad! I really enjoyed listening to the clip. I am a Sousa enthusiast and can highly recommend the books by Paul Bierley which you probably have already read. Please continue to unearth these gems that are so important in our understanding of the development of the sousaphone and the tuba!
1930 King "Symphony" Recording Bass BBb
1916 Holton "Mammoth" Upright Bass BBb
1994 King 2341 Upright Bass BBb
Wedge H2 Solo mouthpieces
Stofer-Geib mouthpieces
1916 Holton "Mammoth" Upright Bass BBb
1994 King 2341 Upright Bass BBb
Wedge H2 Solo mouthpieces
Stofer-Geib mouthpieces