Posted by Rick Denney on February 10, 2002 at 13:24:12:
In Reply to: the key of a tuba posted by uninformed on February 09, 2002 at 22:52:07:
Stated another way: All tuba music (outside the brass band) is written in concert pitch, and it is the tuba player's responsibility to press the right buttons on the instrument he chooses.
Thus, a Bb on the bass clef staff is played open (4th harmonic) on a BBb tuba, first valve (fourth harmonic) on a C tuba, open (third harmonic) on an Eb tuba, first valve (third harmonic) on an F tuba, and open (second harmonic) on a Bb euphonium.
That's why there's so much discussion of which instrument is used where--the tubist has free reign to make his choice without few hints from the music, as long as he knows the fingerings for that instrument.
Rick "who thinks 'pitch' should be used instead of 'key' when describing tubas" Denney