Posted by GC on August 21, 2003 at 10:55:27:
In Reply to: Sound "blending" posted by Doug on August 19, 2003 at 23:13:12:
I really feel that the main two components of blend are intonation and balance. Differing timbres can sometimes combine to form a new tone quality that individual tubas can't match, especially in depth. A shared concept of intonation within a section is probably the most important thing to a good blend. You just can't blend when individual members are off pitch or are sticking out.
The best blended sections I ever played with all had widely differing instruments. There were both rotary and piston instruments, BBb and CC and Eb, 4/4 to 6/4 horns. The instrument doesn't matter that much; the player's willingness to match the sound of his section mates is the key.
Wouldn't you love to have heard the sound quality of the summer camp tuba section that featured Arnold Jacobs, Bill Bell, and Harvey Phillips? Being the great section players that they were, that would have to be the ultimate in section tone and blend.