An interesting choice

[timayer]

I hesitated writing this because horn selection can become a heated topic, but this is too interesting to me not to point out.

I happened upon this recording of the Concertgebouw Orchestra playing Bruckner 5 a few weeks ago:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFzcmb2SKNo&t=431s

It is, in my opinion, a spectacular recording of Bruckner 5.

The tuba playing stuck out to me here as wonderfully present yet not overbearing. Upon a closer inspection, it looks like the part is being played on an F tuba the whole time (ex: 1:06:02; 1:07:47). This isn't a choice a lot of players would make when confronted with a Bruckner symphony, even confronted with bass tuba being specified in some of the parts. I don't say this as a criticism. His orchestrations are huge, the parts span a wide range, and contrabass tuba makes a lot of logical sense.

But I've spent a lot of time recently being frustrated with playing a large CC tuba (PT6 - not the biggest tuba around, but certainly not small), and this is more proof to me that a very large tuba may not be necessary in as many places as I previously thought.

[UDELBR]

The tuba playing stuck out to me here as wonderfully present yet not overbearing.

That's a very tuba-friendly hall, plus they hang mics from the ceiling during tapings, so it has the close-mic effect.

But yeah: Bruckner 4, 5, and 6 work great on smaller tubas. I've played 'em a bunch on Eb.

[bort]

Anyone know what tuba he's playing?

[DouglasJB]

He and I are friends on Facebook, I can ask him, but I think it's a HB10 or HB12. One of the piston Hisbrunner F tubad

[bort]

Awesome, thanks. Sounds great!

[DouglasJB]

My former professor is an Adams Artist now, he sounded amazing on his Adams (but he sounded great on everything), Hirbrunner and Adams horn look identical in layout and I imagine they play similarly too, but I haven't tried any Hirbrunner that I could compare except the Yorkbrunner, which along with the 6/4 Adams both fell short of the Nirschl York for me.

[pjv]

In all honesty an F (or Eb) might Just sound better on almost any recording. The closer its mic'ed the more obvious How muddy a larger tuba can sound.
Ive also heard this opinion reflecteert by sound engineers (uh, and not necessaily about my kan playing, he he)

[bort]

Live vs recorded is a whole 'nother thing.

Also, I'm embarrassed to say, that's the first time I've heard Bruckner's 5th!