Contrabass Digest |
| To subscribe or unsubscribe, email gdgreen@contrabass.com |
From: Opusnandy@aol.com
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 21:03:36 EDT
Subject: Re: 64' organ stops????
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.comI do know that the organ at the First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston
has a 64' pipe. The tour guide claimed it was the largest organ (as far as
combined sizes of the pipes) in North America.Jon Carreira
Liking that Bari Sax Mouthpiece on a Tuba idea a whole lot
---------------------------------------------------------From: "Tom Izzo" <jeanvaljean@ntsource.com>
Subject: Re: French Horn
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 23:21:15 -0500
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.com> How long is a french horn's tube? Is it about 11 foot? Isn't that the same
> as a F tuba?16 feet, same length as a Euphonium or Trombone with the F (or 4th) valve
depressed. Yes, same length as for an F Tuba.Tom
Help!
>
> Colin Harris
> ----------------------
> end contrabass list
>---------------------------------------------------------
From: "David Neubauer" <dnmagic@earthlink.net>
Subject: re: Hoffnung
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 23:37:56 -0700
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.comGrant,
My collection includes Hoffnung's Musical Chairs, Hoffnung's
Acoustics, Hoffnung's Harlequinade, Birds, Bees and Storks, Hoffnung
in Harmony, and Hoffnung, his biography (by Annetta Hoffnung). All
highly recommended! The book you are referring to is Hoffnung's
Musical Chairs. The CD's are a must! I also have the complete
collection of postcards that Annetta kindly sent to me. My prize of
the collection is a framed drawing of the entire orchestra as only
Hoffnung could, signed by Annetta when I met her at the Hollywood Bowl
about 15 years ago. A super lady.David Neubauer
www.dnmagic.com> Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 13:13:40 -0700
> From: Grant Green <gdgreen@contrabass.com>
> Subject: Hoffnung cartoons
> Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.com
> Along with the Hoffnung CDs, I picked up several of the Hoffnung
> cartoon books. One of them is full of pictures of instruments and
> players (I've forgotten the title, unfortunately). Included in the
> cartoons is one of a woman practicing sarrusophone in bed, to her
> husband's evident misery, and another of a cimbasso (in the common,
> modern T format) transformed into a floor lamp...
>
> Grant
---------------------------------------------------------
From: Heliconman@aol.com
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 02:45:10 EDT
Subject: subcontrabass tubas
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.comgreggbailey@hotmail.com writes:
> >a monster tuba seven foot high,
> What's the story on this tuba?? I mean, is it a BBBb a full octave below
> the standard tuba? Is it a new one, or is it Sousa's or Harvard's???
> What are the lowest notes that the music has it play? Does it frequently play
> 32' notes? Is it easy to pick out in the recording?
> How can a person's lips effectively play an instrument that large with a
> mouthpiece that large??
>
One more time on subcontrabass tubas. I know that there are definitely three
of them. There is a BBBb (Besson?) tuba at Carl Fischer's main and only
remaining office on Bleecker St in NYC which I confirmed only a few months
ago with a gentleman named Sandy. I don't know any of its history...yet! And
BTW...YES, Fischer's DID close all their retail stores but they are
continuing in the wholesale sheet music business. Last I knew their new
website was under construction and they were planning on a list of "dealers
near YOU".
There is also the BBBb tuba in the Harvard Band room. I think Grant has put
up my picture(s) on the Contrabass.com website that I took while visiting and
doing my best to play the beast last spring. Recordings of this beast MAY be
available through the Harvard Band perhaps with the help of band director Tom
Everett. If he needs persuading, offer to make a donation towards the
replacement of the STOLEN subcontrabass tuba mouthpiece. The big tuba needs a
lot of work too! My experience (trying to) play it.....it takes a HUGE amount
of lung capacity to begin to use the proper series of fingerings. I came
close to producing a chromatic with the
proper fingerings but at the end I was TOTALLY hyperventilating and seeing
stars so I had to surrender. By the way, since its mouthpiece was STOLEN, I
had to use my sousaphone neck as a mouthpiece adapter for my usual Shilke 62
tuba mouthpiece. This probably accounted for a major problem producing a good
sounding tone in the lower range. The last 3 soloists on this horn, including
Sam Pilafian, had to reinvent the fingering to play in tune as best they
could. The metal of the horn rattles and buzzes as if the brass were too thin
or as if something has come unsoldered. I also wouldn't be at all surprised
to find various debris inside its gaping maw! In short, it needs some
attention. The monster horn is played in concert once every 5 years at the
Harvard Band Reunion.
The third is the EEb (Paxman?) tuba played by the late Gerard Hoffnung in
London at the several Hoffnung Music Festivals he produced and conducted. His
official website reveals a photo of his monster (probably the widest of rims
of the three) as well as a source for purchasing tapes and CDs of the
Festivals and other Hoffnung musical spoofery. I'm sure anyone will grin at
his marvelous cartoons as well, mostly aimed at musicians! Peter Shickele
notes that Hoffnung was a main inspiration for his PDQ Bach projects. Funny
and wonderful stuff! I believe one of out contrabassers has volunteered to
contact his widow Anetta Hoffnung regarding its specifications and locations.
As to date of manufacture, I think the EEb Hoffnung tuba is probably the
most recent.
Other than those three that we definitely know something about, the only
other clues we have to monster tubas are the reference in Anthony Baines
"Brass Instruments" to a BBBb tuba played by Gilmore's Band and undocumented
rumors that one was "built by Sousa for Sousa's Band". Still waiting to hear
what the source of that info is. My own SPECULATION on the Gilmore tuba is
that it may be either one of the aforementioned BBBb tubas because the
Harvard tuba is engraved "distributed by Carl Fischer, New York". I also
SPECULATE that the big tuba housed AT Carl Fischer's in NYC is also a
Besson/CFNY. I'm overdue to visit NYC, but the BBBb tuba is high on my list
of things to do in the Big Apple. Perhaps at TubaChristmas!
Heliconman@aol.com
---------------------------------------------------------Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 12:37:23 +0100 (BST)
From: Dafydd y garreg wen <mavnw@csv.warwick.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: subcontrabass tubas
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.com
On Tue, 19 Oct 1999 Heliconman@aol.com wrote:> Other than those three that we definitely know something about, the only
> other clues we have to monster tubas are the reference in Anthony Baines
> "Brass Instruments" to a BBBb tuba played by Gilmore's Band and undocumented
> rumors that one was "built by Sousa for Sousa's Band". Still waiting to hear
> what the source of that info is.I know somebody posted a note saying that the Guinness Book of Records is
not a reliable source, but mine does say that this Tuba is the largest in
the world and is now owned by a circus promoter in South Africa. I
think Adam mentioned this before. Also, the English version of this tends
to be less of an 'amazing facts book' than the American version, with a
bit more credibility.Dave Taylor
---------------------------------------------------------
From: SEMarcus@aol.com
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 08:12:39 EDT
Subject: Re: subcontrabass tubas
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.com
In a message dated 10/19/99 1:45:44 AM, Heliconman@aol.com writes:<<One more time on subcontrabass tubas. I know that there are definitely three
of them.>>Yes, the one at Harvard, the one at Carl Fischer, the EEb from Paxson's that
Hoffnung played, PLUSDr. Frederick Young's BBb/EEE double tuba.
< Steve Marcus (http://members.delphi.com/stevemarcus/index.html)
> BBb Bass, Prairie Brass Band (www.prairiebrass.org)
> Director of Sales, THE BEAUTIFUL SOUND, INC. (630) 325-9999 (Steinway Piano
> Dealer)
> http://www.qrsmusic.com/mrktng/dealers/Beautsound/BeautSound.htm
---------------------------------------------------------From: SEMarcus@aol.com
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 08:16:37 EDT
Subject: Re: subcontrabass tubas
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.com
<<On Tue, 19 Oct 1999 Heliconman@aol.com wrote:> Other than those three that we definitely know something about, the only
> other clues we have to monster tubas are... >>There is also rumored to be a subcontrabass tuba at the Cerveny/Amati factory
in the Czech republic. Can anyone substantiate or refute this rumor?Kindest regards,
< Steve Marcus (http://members.delphi.com/stevemarcus/index.html)
> BBb Bass, Prairie Brass Band (www.prairiebrass.org)
> Director of Sales, THE BEAUTIFUL SOUND, INC. (630) 325-9999 (Steinway Piano
> Dealer)
> http://www.qrsmusic.com/mrktng/dealers/Beautsound/BeautSound.htm
---------------------------------------------------------From: Opusnandy@aol.com
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 16:51:45 EDT
Subject: Re: subcontrabass tubas
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.comIn a message dated 10/19/1999 1:45:44 AM, Heliconman@aol.com writes:
<< Other than those three that we definitely know something about, the only
other clues we have to monster tubas are the reference in Anthony Baines
"Brass Instruments" to a BBBb tuba played by Gilmore's Band and undocumented
rumors that one was "built by Sousa for Sousa's Band". >>According to my 1977 edition of the Guiness Book of World Records, the tuba
built for the Sousa band is now owned by a private collector. It has a
picture of him playing the beast. It looks to be in good condition (much
better then the Harvard one seems to be in).Jon Carreira
Building the fourth one in my back yard
---------------------------------------------------------From: Heliconman@aol.com
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 16:59:50 EDT
Subject: Re: subcontrabass tubas
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.comIn a message dated 10/19/99 1:45:44 AM, Heliconman@aol.com writes:
<<One more time on subcontrabass tubas. I know that there are definitely three
of them.>>Yes, the one at Harvard, the one at Carl Fischer, the EEb from Paxman (SIC)
that Hoffnung played, PLUSDr. Frederick Young's BBb/EEE double tuba.
Do Tell!! Any more info on THIS one? Where is it now located?
> There is also rumored to be a subcontrabass tuba at the Cerveny/Amati factory
> in the Czech republic. Can anyone substantiate or refute this rumor?I guess this will be easy enough to czech out!
errr....sorry!Thanks for the HOT tips!
Heliconman
---------------------------------------------------------From: "Tom Izzo" <jeanvaljean@ntsource.com>
Subject: Re: subcontrabass tubas
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 18:24:43 -0500
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.com> <<One more time on subcontrabass tubas. I know that there are definitely three
> of them.>>
>
> Yes, the one at Harvard, the one at Carl Fischer, the EEb from Paxman
(SIC)
> that Hoffnung played, PLUS
>
> Dr. Frederick Young's BBb/EEE double tuba.
>
> Do Tell!! Any more info on THIS one? Where is it now located?Dr Young has it himself. I don't have the URL, but he has a website with a
picture of him playing it.
He's an MD, & a hobbyist Musician & tinkerer. Go surfing on "Tuba", or on
"Contrabass Tuba", see what's out there.Tom
Next Digest ->
Previous Digest <-
Index
Top