Re: String Bass vs. Tuba


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Posted by Philip Jensen on October 31, 2002 at 15:14:46:

In Reply to: String Bass vs. Tuba posted by Volker on October 31, 2002 at 05:30:47:

Blame it on the development of microphones.

They've been having a great serious on PBS radio (Morning Edition) on the histroy of music and recording. Check out the link below, particularly part 2. They talk about old wax cylinder recordings and what was needed to make them record well - they were playing into the recording cone with no electronics. The show says that in early jazz recordings the tuba cut the wax better than the string bass, similarly the banjo over the guitar, so they were the instruments of choice. Then along came the microphone and the rccording advantage of the tuba was lost, things got even worse with the advent of vinyl. Shall we say the rest is history.

Now a days, I think the string bass versus tuba debate is largely one of ignorance over time. Most people are used to seeing/hearing a string bass for certain music so that is the way it has to be - phoeeey!! Think outside the box!! (or should that be bell). Actually it's not us, but the others who need a little out of box time, well actually it is us. People aren't just going to out of the blue say, "gee, I think swing bands should use a tuba instead of a string or electric bass" it us up to us to open their eyes.

Philip "trying to bang the drum (tuba) loudly (but tastefully)" Jensen



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