[Trombone-l] Cimbasso or tuba?

[Raymond Horton]

Thanks for posting that, Walter.  That paper looks like an excellent 
contribution to the discussion.


On the other, related subject of instruments for the Italian opera:  
When the subject of valve trombones has come up, we immediately come 
back to bore size.  Symphony players often do not feel comfortable 
playing the valve trombones that are currently available because of the 
small bore. 


I once tried a (no-longer-available) Conn valve instrument that had the 
8H bell soldered on it (looked like an alto horn - I forget - is that a 
flugabone?).  That seemed like it would be an excellent choice for a 
symphonic valve trombone, if it were available. 


Another possibility might be a marching euphonium or marching baritone.  
The former, which I have tried, may be too broad sounding, but I haven't 
tried the latter. 


Back in 1977 Per Brevig, then co-principal with the Met, told me that 
when Met conductors requested valve trombones the section played BASS 
TRUMPETS!  That is hard to imagine. 


Anyone had experience with valve trombones or other beasts in opera?


Raymond Horton
Louisville Orchestra





Walter Barrett wrote:

>On Sep 11, 2006, at 5:36 PM, d. sleeman wrote:
>
>  
>
>>Listmates,
>>
>>I have been asked to play the tuba part in Verdi's opera I Lombardi.
>>
>>Shouldn't that be a (contra)bass trombone or a cimbasso instead?
>>
>>Regards,
>>
>>Dick Sleeman, Lelystad, Holland. <d.sleeman at hccnet.nl>
>>    
>>
>
>According to James Gourlay's excellent paper on the use of Cimbasso  
>in Verdi, the instrument most likely used in 1843 in La Scala would  
>have been ophicleide, so whatever gets you closest to that. Small F  
>tuba, cimbasso, even a euphonium can work.
>
>
>Walter Barrett
>
>"so does the sound exist somewhere in your head
>and you try to find a brass funnel that fits ???
>OR do you fit your head into the brass funnel
>????????????? "
>	-DJ Kennedy
>
>Alto, tenor, bass trombones
>Bass trumpet, euphonium, tuba
>Yamaha Artist/Clinician
>http://www.walterbarrett.com
>
>
>  
>