Posted by Larry Zaidan on June 26, 2002 at 08:35:41:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Extreme high range on tuba posted by Zac on June 25, 2002 at 18:23:12:
If you consider the matter carefully, you will realize that all instruments sound different in their various registers.
Think of a clarinet sound, deep in its chalemeau range, and contrast it with its extreme high clarion, or altissimo registers.....huge difference in tone quality, no?
Consider also, the sound of a violin playing sul G, on the G string, and contrast that with music played on the E string, far up the fingerboard...again a big contrast in tone.
I think that the fact that the tuba sounds differently in each area of its range -- above, below, and in the staff, is a strength! It gives GOOD composers more colours to "paint" with, making the tuba more versatile, and musically valuable. I also think that poor writing in any range does nothing to advance the instrument in the music world. Writing high notes, strictly for novelty's sake, is indicative of a weak composition.
My $0.02...
Larry Zaidan