Which should I use?

[jmerring]

I have an opportunity to perform the first movement of the VW with concert band. I have enough lead time (3 months) to learn how to play it on an F tuba. Is that a better idea than using my BBb? I have the range for it, but from what I have been reading; an F horn makes more sense. Opinions, anyone?

[tubacdk]

well, the piece is called Concerto for Bass Tuba, so technically the F tuba would be the more appropriate choice. of course, everyone is going to respond, "But Arnold Jacobs recorded it on the 6/4 York CC!!!" so whatever.

if I was in your situation, I'd choose to learn it on F. But overall, do whatever you think is going to sound better. If you're going to be more comfortable and make better music on the BBb, do that. I'm personally more comfortable doing it on my F tuba than either of my CCs. If it was equally comfortable on both horns, I think I'd still choose the F as I find it to be the more appropriate sound. So ya, go for the F. If you get a month away from the gig and you're not feeling really comfortable with it, you've got time to switch back.

my $.02

-ck

[CJ Krause]

***

[jmerring]

Thanks, friends. I think the suggestion of trying on the F and if I'm not comfortable a month out, then go back to BBb. Oh, yes, I am just learning the fingerings on the F (god - how confusing!).

[Z-Tuba Dude]

John Fletcher played it on an F.

I thought that he used his Eb....

[JB]

John Fletcher played it on an F.

I thought that he used his Eb....

That is my understanding as well; this is the first reference I have ever encountered suggesting that Mr Fletcher played an F tuba for anything. (Had heard of his use of Eb, and understand sometimes CC & BBb, but no F.)

Anyone out there know more that can enlighten the rest of us?

[Kevin Miller]

Fletcher playing an F? SACRILEGE! Say it ain't so Joe!

[JB]

Mr. Fletcher played it on an F...

What is your source for this info?

[TonyZ]

I played it on a BBb Cerveny. Not a great horn, but it was my best performance because the music was already there!

[Rick Denney]

Mr. Fletcher played it on an F. Mr. Jacobs played it on his CC for a recording, then an F in a live concert.

Huh?

I don't think any of this is correct. Lore has it that Fletcher played it on his Eb because, "I don't bloody well own an F, do I?" (Or something very close to that.)

Jacobs definitely recorded the RVW on the Duetsche Grammophon release using a Besson F tuba, because that was the instrument it was written for. For various reasons, the recording does not make a strong case for use of that instrument (nor does the Catelinet recording on a similar instrument). He recorded it on his CC also, but that recording never received wide (or even narrow) distribution and is no longer available. He laid down the first movement on tape in his basement using his CC, and that is on the Portrait of an Artist CD.

One recording of the RVW not to be missed was recorded by Hans Nickel on the Cantuballada CD (Valve-Hearts is the label). He used a Hirsbrunner F tuba. In it, he makes a strong case for playing it as published--the only really strong musical case for doing so that I've heard.

Rick "who never loses record liner notes" Denney

[WoodSheddin]

F tuba

[ThomasP]

The VW concerto gave me a reason to learn to play F tuba, until I started playing the VW I had only played CC, and BBb in my younger days. Play on what you want to play on, but realize this, most composers learn about an instrument and try to write as idiomatically for that instrument as possible. VW wrote this piece for F, so wouldn't that be the best instrument for the job? If someone wrote a piece for alto saxophone, and the range required in such piece could be played on soprano saxophone, one might say why not play it on soprano? But that's not what its written for. My argument is if you have a choice play it the way it was meant to be played, on F. If you don't have a choice, play it on what you can play it on.