Word from the Tuba Ghetto
Just when you think you've heard everything along comes word of the International Tuba Euphonium Association, originally founded in 1973 as the Tubists Universal Brotherhood Association, an organization of tubists, tuba lovers, teachers, makers, and, I suppose, people who love people who love tubas. There's even a Tuba News, an annual tuba conference, and a yearly competition that draws people from all over the world. A glimpse at the latest issue of Tuba News reveals articles on "friction, also called sizzle or edge, an essential part of the tubists sonic repertoire," and those two fascinating tuba-related instruments, the ophicleide and cimbasso. The latter article was written by the acclaimed Roger Bobo, a wonderful name, I think, for a tuba player.
posted by John M Crowther @ 7:22 AM
8 Comments:
Near where I live is the international tuba museum and restaurant. decorated with scores of tubas and euphoniums. My grandkids like the place especially since Pete plays the baritone horn aka a euphonium. roger
Great cartoon John...although it sort of makes my stomach turn. Having played in a symphony, (violin)...it continually disgusts me how brass players contend with all that produced spit(shiver!). I love the sound they produce but glad I never dated one! (violinists tend to be rather snobby...)
If you had tried, you could not have made up such a wonderful name for a tuba player. Love the commentary and the cartoon. Not a big fan of the tuba but give me a good drum solo and I melt. Guess it is generic of Scots, plus a flute as it is called here in the States.
Great cartoon John... oddly my first thought was that the bucket could have been a bottle of Scotch but I guess I was just harking back to my grandfather's penchant for pouring Scotch into his bagpipes... (although I think now in hindsight he may have been pulling my grandmother's leg and drinking the stuff instead)
This reminded me of one of my sons picking this instrument to study. It came in a huge case which he carried home each night to practice and back to school the next morning. He was about 11 or 12 years old and the case was almost as big as he was.
Katherine
Roger Bobo, who had studied with the legendary George Boujie --soloist on the original Danny Kaye recording of “Tubby the Tuba-- was for a quarter century the principal tuba at the Los Angeles Philharmonic. His golden instrument, towering above the orchestra, could be seen at many a Hollywood Bowl concert. If you would like to hear how lyrical that unwieldy instrument can sound in the hands and with the lips of a maestro, click on to http://www.rogerbobo.com/
At a jazz concert last fall there was a piece for piano and 5 tuba. Very good too but noy likely to ne picked up since it id hard to find a place with 5 good tuba players.lol roger
While we’re honoring the tuba, let’s not forget the Sousaphone, named after the music director of the United States Marine Corps Band, who wanted a marching instrument (worn around the neck) capable of producing a fuller, warmer sound than previous brass instruments. In the roaring twenties, the Sousaphone –a carry-over from the marching funeral bands of New Orleans-- often provided the bass notes in a jazz band. When jazz settled down to dance halls, night clubs and bordellos, the Sousaphone was replaced by the bass violin usually played pizzicato. Today, the Fender bass and other electronic instruments from the guitar family have replaced the bass violin in many recordings.
Post a Comment
<< Home