What do you not..

[Tubaryan12]

Doc wrote:
-Buying vehicles to accomodate the size/space needed for one or more tubas. I can't buy a cheap, gas-saving 4cyl car.

Not true....Ford Focus ZX3 ... and the doors are wide enough for those of us that need the extra room.

p.s. ....I won't buy one because it's a Ford....but it does fit more than one horn if the rear seats are folded down

[Charlie Goodman]

Really Funny Guy: "Betcha wish you had taken up piccolo!"

Tubist: "Oh my Gawd! That is soooo funny! I've never heard that before."

That's mentioned in a Douglas Adams book, only in reference to bass players getting that comment. I now consider Mr. Adams to be the finest author alive.

[Kevin Hendrick]

... I now consider Mr. Adams to be the finest author alive.

If only he was still alive ... (he was one of my favorite authors, too)

[winston]

.

[tubeast]

Tubas and french horn share a particular drawback in German community bands: As one is the "Ooomp" and the other is the "Pah" band directors think they can put them in the hands of their least-talented musicians, and that´ll be the exact thing that´ll support the bad image we have.
Plus, the ordinary village band literature will distract any kid from learning the horn, because it seems just too boring, so we hardly have any newcomers.

[TexTuba]

I don't like the transportation of the horn and the price. Now I know we're getting off easy compared to strings but it's still a huge chunk of change for ME.

Ralph

[smurphius]

I can sympathize with you there Doc. Not only do I play tuba and bass trombone, but my wife plays double bass as well as electric bass (with the accompanying method of amplification) and music stands galore. MUTES too. Of course, I'm not complaining, because I drive a vehicle large enough.... then again, I am complaining, and it's all OPEC's fault.

I can't wait until cars run exclusively on solar energy..... One of these days. LoL.

[Paul S]

Problem is: I have an upright bass, amp, speaker, mic stand, Manhasset stand, and cord box to haul also.

I can sympathize with you there Doc. Not only do I play tuba and bass trombone, but my wife plays double bass as well as electric bass (with the accompanying method of amplification) and music stands galore. MUTES too....

In having five tuba players and two double bass players in the extended family, this is about the only thing that works for us all traveling together!

[Rick Denney]

What do you not like about tuba?

The persistent tendonitis in my right elbow.

For my wife, it's the consumption of serious living-room real estate.

Rick "who thinks practicing would be a problem if there was any" Denney

[Charlie Goodman]

... I now consider Mr. Adams to be the finest author alive.

If only he was still alive ... (he was one of my favorite authors, too)

Oops... yeah, poor choice of words.

[TheChiefofStaph]

p.s. looking for "quality solo literature"? pick up the pendriky capricio, or bach cello suits...or hey, just play the music we already have (which is not that bad) better. you dont have to have beethoven to have music

There's a difference between "not that bad" and quality literature. Even the "cornerstones" of our literature (i.e. the Vaughan Williams, the Hindemith, maybe the Penderecki) pales in comparison to the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, the Dvorak Cello Concerto, the Mozart Horn Concerti, and even any number of works by "second-rate" composers. It seems like we've had this discussion before on this board and someone brought up that they'd even rather play "The Lark Ascending" by Vaughan Williams rather than his Tuba Concerto. And while taking solace in playing works not orignally intended for the tuba works for a while, it gets old.

[Rick Denney]

Do you use a top-loading gig bag?

Nope. I sold my last top-loading bag 14 years ago. That was when it was my lower back, heh, heh.

Rick "who can feel his heavy tubas when casing and uncasing them no matter what kind of case" Denney

[dtemp]

As far as solos go, there seem to be two different camps. There are those who feel more comfortable with more classic solos, either written for the tuba or arranged for it. The other group seems to prefer more modern "bullshit" as Doc put it. I personally belong to the second. I think the days of playing the VW and Bach cello suites are waning. Of course this literature is important in our understanding of the instrument and I will have to play some of it for grad school auditions upcoming. However, I would rather play the newer literature coming out for our instrument. Now, of course, not everyone is going to like playing or listening to. No matter what your taste in music, you're going to have to play music you might not enjoy at first. The key is MAKING it enjoyable to play. If you enjoy playing it, chances are audiences will enjoy listening to it. I encourage everyone to at least try to play a modern solo and give it an honest shot. Too many times I've heard fellow students sight read a piece, label it "weird", and put it away.

As for me, I'll always be trying new pieces. Of course VW, Gregson, Bach, Wilder, etc. will always be in my files because they are important. However, if we don't accept new music, the tuba will always be viewed negatively as a solo instrument.

[Chuck(G)]

Trying to wish ourselves into great classical or romantic works FOR tuba is an excersice in futility. Tubas were not around in the classical period. Those great composers are dead.

You know, Doc, the implication of this is that there hasn't been that much really good music composed since about the beginning of the 20th century. Else we'd be up to our armpits in great tuba solos.

So why is that?

[mTaUrBkA]

I don't like the fact that it's challenging to find tubas and tuba accessories and tuba music in certain areas of the country/world. I don't like all of those fingerprints on my silver horn either! I guess thats kinda my fault though

[zeman23]

To paraphrase a sentiment from another thread, "complaints, I have a few, but then again, too few to mention." I love the tuba, and that feeling far outweighs any problems I may have with it.

-Zack Zeman

[Chuck(G)]

Just as I was about to suggest commissioning Hans Werner Henze to work out a tuba setting of "Songs from the Arabian"....

Oh well, in for a penny, in for a pound. I'd like to venture that the tuba is, in fact, on the verge of obsolescence. (on the verge of becoming obsolete, just to be clear) Or at least very quaint.

Take yourself outside of the role of tuba player/musician and try to think like Joe Sixpack.

The military will continue to use it in bands, there being no adequate substitute (maybe the sarrusophone will enjoy a rennaissance).

While it has a place in the orchestra, so does the contrabassoon. But I don't see a lot of major new works for contrabassoon either. I don't see orchestras on the ascendant, unfortunately.

What else? Some Dixieland groups still use it, as do a few polka bands (most do not). Wind bands use them, but how many professional wind bands can the average Joe on the street name?

Mostly, it's a school band instrument.

So what modern-day Beethoven is going to be motivated to compose a great work for it?

[windshieldbug]

So what modern-day Beethoven is going to be motivated to compose a great work for it?

When I asked John Adams why he wrote such kick-*** tuba parts, he looked puzzled and said, "I just hear them. Why?".

[Chuck(G)]

Some folks just like the tuba sound, I guess. Maybe that's enough. It's a start anyway.

Well, that's why I play tuba.

[Charlie Goodman]

I think John Williams should write a big symphony piece, instead of his usual marchs. Unless he has some symphony pieces? He can write some kick *** star wars music. Think what one of his symphonies would be like. Almost like Mahler? Maybe less evil and sinister?

....



.......




Dude.



.......




THE STUFF FROM STAR WARS IS BIG SYMPHONY STUFF!




And yes, he has quite a few symphony pieces, and a pretty flippin' cool tuba concerto, as well. [/flame]