Posted by Steve C on December 07, 2002 at 16:12:01:
In Reply to: Marching horns for Tuba Christmas posted by Lew on December 07, 2002 at 15:04:59:
Not defending the use of the flugabones, but at the local tuba xmas last year, a friend lent his tuba for someone to use, and the only other horn he could get ahold of was my Olds Flugabone. This may be why some of these horns get used, just because there is no euph or baritone avalable to the player. As far as alto horn, I think it can be effective. That same year we had an alto horn player join us. For the most part you couldn't tell it was there, by the sound, it blended great. When you could tell he was playing was when he, tastfully, took the melody of an octave (usually the last time you hear the chorus or the end of the piece), with great effect. Had the same thing been attempted on a baritone or euph, it would have sounded like some gung-ho, wanna-be-in-the-spot-light baritone playing an octive too high.
as far as mellophones, they always belong in the trash can.
Steve C