Posted by Rick Denney on April 16, 2003 at 15:16:08:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Horn advice posted by Larry Zaidan on April 16, 2003 at 07:38:59:
Actually, even in a tuba quartet, a grand-orchestral tuba might be too broad or deep in its sound, unless you are a master. The one thing a tuba quartet has to achieve is clarity, and crisp, relatively unresonant sounds are actually an advantage. I've heard many great tuba quartets, and only occasionally does it seem that the BAT on the bottom is a real advantage--in all those cases, the performer is a master. Many times, though, the bottom sound adds texture without clarity, and makes the overall sound too thick.
When I played in the TubaMeisters, Ray played the bottom part on a Miraphone 186 CC. I played third on my small Yamaha F, and the top players used euphoniums. We got a much cleaner sound than when we had played four contrabasses.
As with previous comments, it can be done, but it puts quite a burden on the player.
Rick "who needs all the help he can get" Denney