Posted by Sean Chisham on December 01, 1998 at 08:43:57:
In Reply to: Tuba with a slide (almost like a trombone slide)? posted by Henry on November 30, 1998 at 23:26:03:
Sounds like you are either speaking of a cimbasso or a contrabass trombone. The cimbasso has a trombone like bell pointing forward, valves facing forward and a peg like a cello player. They are satanical sounding instruments which are used in Verdi operas and by the US Army to take down MIG fighters.
The contrabass trombone, I believe, is a Wagner invented instrument for the Ring. I did not pay very good attention in music history so that could be way off base. It is pitched in the same octave of Bb as a BBb tuba. The slide is doubled around and it uses a tuba mouthpiece. I have never actually seen one in person, just in catalogs. I know that Miraphone makes them, and I would assume that Cerveny and VMI do also.
sean