Type of Tuba in Concerto

[KevinBock]

Its traditionally an F tuba, which I'm pretty sure that recording is done on. Yorks aren't used for something of that kind of solo caliber that I've ever heard of, at least at the professional level.

[Rick Denney]

Today, I bought a CD, which is titled "The Chicago Principal".
As many of you know, V. Williams' Tuba Concerto is included
in this CD, and Mr. Jacobs plays the tuba.

What kind of tuba Mr. Jacobs play in this recording? Is he
playing the famous york model tuba? (I think he is, but I
cannot be sure.)

In general, when pros or others play Tuba Concerto (of V.
Williams or others), what type of tuba is used? The bigger
tuba like a york model fits better in concerto? Or, a smaller
4/4 sized tuba fits better? Thanks.

Mr. Jacobs used a Besson compensating F tuba similar to the instrument used by Philip Catelinet for the premiere in 1954. It is probably the closest instrument to the experience of the composer. But much ink has been devoted to the question of that choice.

He used his York for his basement rehearsal of the work in "Arnold Jacobs, Portrait of an Artist".

The work was written for an English orchestral F tuba, which is a very small instrument, even smaller than the Besson Jacobs and Catelinet used. Of currently available instruments, the only two that even come close to the diminutive size of that instrument is the Yamaha 621 or the Meinl-Weston 182, both of which have a much bigger sound than the English Barlow F tuba.

Of the recordings of it I have in my collection, Bell used an F tuba made for him by King in his 1955 recording. John Fletcher (and the other British performers--Dowling comes to mind--who've done it since) used a Besson Eb compensating tuba. Michael Lind used an Alexander F tuba, and Hans Nickel used a Hirsbrunner F tuba.

The answer is that today most would perform it on their orchestral F tuba. High-end performers can manage it on C or even Bb, but it's harder work.

Rick "who can't manage it on F" Denney

[Z-Tuba Dude]

....John Fletcher (and the other British performers--Dowling comes to mind--who've done it since) used a Besson Eb compensating tuba.....

It was my impression that John Fletcher also used an F tuba for his recording. Is that not true?

[Peach]

....John Fletcher used a Besson Eb compensating tuba.....

It was my impression that John Fletcher also used an F tuba for his recording. Is that not true?

No. B&H Eb compensator like Rick said.

If I remember, the tuba used in Jacobs' basement recording was actually the big Holton - not the York. Jacobs announces the horn at the beginning of the tape.

Think Song & Wind says for the recording from 1970-something (with the dodgy cadenza-take) Jacobs used the Boosey F tuba. That Boosey was used for performances that season (again, like Rick said).
Also I'm near-certain S&W goes on to say that for other performances of the VW Jacobs used the York.

So there you go; AJ used the 6/4 York. Sure others have done successfully too.
As already stated though, only those without a bass tuba would normally consider performing the work (or most concertos) on a contrabass.

[Rick Denney]

It was my impression that John Fletcher also used an F tuba for his recording. Is that not true?

No unless he acquired one after allegedly and approximately responded to the question of why he didn't use an F, "Because I bloody well haven't got one, do I."

Rick "who thinks Fletcher made the first big departure from the English orchestral F tuba" Denney

[Rick Denney]

If I am reading correctly I just want to clarify; Eugene Dowling is not British, though his CD is titled "The English Tuba", he was born and grew up in the USA. He performed this piece on a Miraphone F tuba, I think the model is 180 though I will have to ask him if this is indeed the correct number. It is a very small F tuba.

I have misgivings about the statement after I wrote it, recalling that Dowling was not British as all, but was in the middle of something else and forgot to go back and modify it. Thanks for the correction and clarification.

Rick "who is now compelled to listen to the Dowling recording again when returning to Virginia" Denney