[Trombone-l] Cimbasso or tuba?

[thetubameister@adelphia.net]

I disagree.  You can mix an match bore sizes, strings, clarinets, whatever.  I wish our community was more flexible to try different sounds.  Not a common attitude amongst classical musicians.  I single no one out.  And I wouldn't dare come in with an ophicleide without checking with our conductor. 

The truth is, we all second guess ourselves, our comrads, our personnel managers and our conductors to make sure we get hired again.  Even with a conductor, we think in the box to avoid making waves or getting fired, get tenure, whatever.  Rarely - if ever - do you find a large ensemble with a collective, adventurous spirit.  Keeps us from breaking the mold and doing new things - the sourse of great art.

J.c.S.


---- Raymond Horton <rayhorton at insightbb.com> wrote: 
> Trombonium was the name.  Really - that was a euph valve section?  
> hmm..  Only played one for a minute.  It was brand new, at dealer, in 
> 1971.  .Shoulda bought it, but I was a college freshman totally in debt. 
> 
> 
> Of course, small bore valve trombones are closer to the instruments 
> Verdi and Puccini would have heard, but unless the rest of the orchestra 
> is also using original instruments and techniques, etc. etc.
> 
> 
> I am looking for a modern instrument compromise. 
> 
> 
> RBH
> 
> 
> thetubameister at adelphia.net wrote:
> 
> >Conn made the 90G, which was an 88H bell attached to a .562 euph valve section with guts to tie them together.  The one I tried worked quite well, as did the King 5B/.562 valve second version of the trombonium, which was it's competitor.  Olds also made one based on the Opera.
> >
> >However, while I know some would feel uncomfortable on small bore instruments, I think the small bore of the valve trombones would be 70% of the point.  Small bores have their place, and their sound, and it just might be a better idea for Italian Opera.  Tough to find out, though.
> >
> >J.c.S.
> >
> >
> >---- Raymond Horton <rayhorton at insightbb.com> wrote: 
> >  
> >
> >>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
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> 
> >>>
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>_______________________________________________
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> >>http://maillists.samford.edu/mailman/listinfo/trombone-l
> >>    
> >>
> >
> >  
> >