Re: Range


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Posted by Rick Denney on October 03, 2002 at 08:32:05:

In Reply to: Range posted by Al on October 02, 2002 at 18:15:23:

Organologists may declare the range of the bass tuba as being the greatest, but even in their world of ideals and norms, the number of valves would be a serious consideration. Most 3-valve Eb "basses" would not have much of a lower range without resorting to preferred tones and other techniques probably outside the experience of many organologists. One might argue that the French C tuba, with six valves, has the greatest range, being able to play from the euphonium highest register to what CC tuba players would call the pedal register. It probably makes sense from an organological viewpoint that the highest tuba that can play the lowest notes ever found in the repertoire would have the widest range, and this is likely at the root of this declaration.

If we take the lowest note in the common repertoire as a "pedal" C (1.5 octaves below the staff), then a five-valve Eb tuba can play that note easily (as can an F). If the typical expert tubist is expected to be able to play four octaves above the fundamental, then that would extend to the Eb on the treble clef (a double high Eb). That gives a range of 4.5 octaves up from the lowest note commonly encountered in the repertoire. Why an Eb would get preference over an F in that sort of thinking I don't know, but I suspect the statement you are questioning is based on that sort of logic.

The real range of the instruments depends on the player, as you mention, but also on the characteristics of the tuba. It is likely that some contrabass tubas can play well into the extreme upper register better than some bass tubas in the right hands. Therefore such general statements cannot be used as advice in individual cases.

Rick "who cannot play 4.5 octaves except in his dreams" Denney


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