F tuba blues - the completely different beast

[imperialbari]

Klaus would put me in jail!

Or I would just pull s joke on a musically and linguistically informed basis.

But some musician considering another musician committing musical crimes is not a new phenomenon.

Without naming names, there was a fight between a phenomenal trumpeter and a keyboardist using synthesizers within the jazz world a couple of decades ago.

The Mozart-Salieri relationship held some of the same aspects, only that Salieri, at least according to the movie, ended up recognising Wolfgang as the greater artist.

If an anecdote may be allowed:

Back in 1985-86 I conducted a very mixed music-school ensemble. Very hard to find relevant material for.

I chose among other pieces also some movements from the Serenata for 13 winds. Also the last quite fast Rondo.

Suddenly I sensed a very high degree of motivation about getting that movement played perfectly. Most of the players, but not I, had gone to the cinema and had watched "Amadeus".

Just another sample of amateurs wanting to play the hot themes from the newest movies.

Klaus

[MaryAnn]

A cello professor from my country recorded these suites a few years ago. Technique and speed were optimal, but the intonation made me sick. And that professor certainly is no bad player, when it comes to the more romantic stuff.

Yesterday I heard one of the Bach movements played by a South-East-Asian cello genius. It was equally much out of tune.

Can alleged geniuses allow themselves to be out of tune just because they have acquired a standing in the general public?

I don’t think it is accepted within the violin world. And maybe tubists rather should concentrate on playing slow and beautifully, but then doing it well in tune.

Well, I bought a CD by Michael Thompson, a highly-touted British horn player. The intonation knocked me off my chair; I found it hard to believe that he would release a CD that made him sound so bad.

And have you heard recordings by Yehudi Menuhin? After he studied Indian ragas, his classical intonation took a dive.

So famous genius does not guarantee wondrous intonation. It helps me to forgive both myself and others who are less than perfect, but my ears still protest sometimes.

MA

[windshieldbug]

Highly overrated:


With those clarinet-things there's so little movement on those key-parts, you hardly know if you've pushed one down or not!

[imperialbari]

Well, I bought a CD by Michael Thompson, a highly-touted British horn player. The intonation knocked me off my chair; I found it hard to believe that he would release a CD that made him sound so bad.

And have you heard recordings by Yehudi Menuhin? After he studied Indian ragas, his classical intonation took a dive.

So famous genius does not guarantee wondrous intonation. It helps me to forgive both myself and others who are less than perfect, but my ears still protest sometimes.

MA

I think Menuhin had a disputable intonation, at least in his double and triple stop cadenzas even before he discovered India.

However he has a great space in my heart, because he was a rich personality of the old school, which is not always the case with the younger factory made virtuosos.

You may know that I also work with recorders. I am no virtuoso, but I play perfectly in tune with a very coherent phrasing and a beautiful sound. By principle I only buy upper end production instruments, as I find the "boutique" trend a waste of money. I am considered very good in selecting recorders. My rejection rate is 90%+, but then I find superb instruments for students, friends, or myself.

The most recognised recorder virtuoso, Michala Petri, is a Dane 11 years younger than me. We have met in person a few times, and we are partially out of the same German tradition. Even our selection of instruments is amazingly similar.

She recently has issued a CD, which all recorder players cry for to be released outside Scandinavia.

But I have heard most of that CD on the radio, and I was deeply saddened by the intonation and partially by some tough passages not being played satisfactorily. The result was way below her standard.

Then Michala herself made a posting about the recording situation. The orchestra and herself with short notice found some shared available days and an available studio. Only the producer well acquainted with all parties was not available. So a B-team entered.

I haven’t recorded that much, but I certainly know, that a pair of really sharp ears being in command of the production process are mandatory.

Klaus Smedegaard Bjerre

[tuba kitchen]

discotuba, I agree! throughout university I played only Eb tuba for everything and it was wonderful. since I live in Germany, I only play c-tuba (melton 2145). I tried a gronitz f for 2 years and it was really NOT my thing: too "German sounding" and really wierd intonation. if I would of had it at university I think it would have been easier to deal with, but in my everyday freelance work situation it was really difficult to integrate.

[Gravid]

I think the key for me was to learn how to slow the air speed and finesse the low end....something that a lot of players won't/can't do and end up hating German F's because 'I can't play a low C like on the Yamaha'.

B-I-N-G-O

[LARSONTUBA]

If you have "mastered" the mechanics on a CC or BBb tuba, and have learned the fingerings and basics of an F or Eb tuba, it shouldn't matter which horn you use. The beautiful music in your mind, as long as it isn't hindered by a lack of technique, should be able to show itself in your playing.

Needless to say, I think a large percentage of music is mental. It's all in your head. Just let it go and make music with the hunk of metal in your hands.

[iiipopes]

Indeed, just as any artist/craftsman has the right tool for the job at hand. You can carve a nice figurine with a table knife, but the appropriate woodcarving knife does facilitate a better job, and quicker!

[windshieldbug]

F tuba blues

F Bb F F Bb Bb F F C7 Bb F

[ArnoldGottlieb]

F tuba blues

F Bb F F Bb Bb F F C7 Bb F
_________________

So the problem is a lack of measures?
Peace. ASG

Playin' my F tuba baby
Got them F tuba blues
I said I'm playin' my F tuba baby
Got them f tuba blues
I keep shining my tuba baby
You keep shining shoes

[windshieldbug]

F