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This section is for posts that are directly related to performance, performers, or equipment. Social issues are allowed, as long as they are directly related to those categories. If you see a post that you cannot respond to with respect and courtesy, we ask that you do not respond at all.
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Last edited by MiBrassFS on Fri Nov 07, 2025 5:27 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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- prodigal (Sat Oct 04, 2025 12:16 pm) • Jperry1466 (Sat Oct 04, 2025 10:10 pm) • TxTx (Sun Oct 05, 2025 12:28 am) • Mark E. Chachich (Sun Oct 05, 2025 11:10 am) • York-aholic (Sun Oct 05, 2025 2:32 pm) and 3 more users
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Jperry1466
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Re: “The Perfect Tuba” (book)
That's a term that goes way back. Up through the 1960s, at least, our section was referred to as the "bass horn" or "bass" section. The old band music, most of which was orchestral transcriptions, labeled our parts as Basses or Bass Horn. My own high school band director recruited me to the tuba when he announced, "we need more bass horn players", and he himself was a tuba player. Bear in mind also that in that era, almost all high school bands, due to budget constraints, used Sousaphones for both marching and concert band. My band director spent a big chunk of his budget in 1965 to buy a Besson compensating BBb, the first actual tuba owned by the band program. By the early 70s, we decided to be more snobbish and call ourselves Tubas, and the newer band music reflected that in part names, as well.Mark wrote: Sun Oct 05, 2025 12:13 pm Sounds interesting. I am a little concerned about the use of the term "Bass Horn". Maybe the author got that from one of the band directors?
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- davidgilbreath (Mon Oct 06, 2025 5:00 am)
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Grumpikins
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Re: “The Perfect Tuba” (book)
I think this book looks interesting given the background of the author. A fresh pair of eyes gives a different perspective. I put it on my christmas list. Which is necessary to prevent people from wasting money on stuff I dont want.
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- Basses88 (Mon Oct 06, 2025 1:18 pm) • prodigal (Tue Oct 07, 2025 5:24 am) • Mary Ann (Tue Oct 07, 2025 8:21 am)
Meinl Weston 2145 CC
King Symphonic BBb circa 1936ish
Pre H.N.White, Cleveland Eb 1924ish (project)
Conn Sousaphone, fiberglass 1960s? (Project)
Olds Baritone 1960s?
Hoping to find a dirt cheap Flugabone
King Symphonic BBb circa 1936ish
Pre H.N.White, Cleveland Eb 1924ish (project)
Conn Sousaphone, fiberglass 1960s? (Project)
Olds Baritone 1960s?
Hoping to find a dirt cheap Flugabone
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humBell
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Re: “The Perfect Tuba” (book)
Someone was just talking about this book to me...
What were they telling me about it?
What were they telling me about it?
"All art is one." -Hal
"Kinds? There aren't any kinds. There's just music." said Kieth "There's always music, if you listen."
-Kieth (from The Amazing Maurice, by Sir Terry)
"Kinds? There aren't any kinds. There's just music." said Kieth "There's always music, if you listen."
-Kieth (from The Amazing Maurice, by Sir Terry)
Re: “The Perfect Tuba” (book)
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Last edited by MiBrassFS on Fri Nov 07, 2025 5:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- York-aholic (Tue Oct 07, 2025 1:37 pm)
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bloke
- Mid South Music
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Re: “The Perfect Tuba” (book)
That's how my trombone-playing high school band director referred to tubas and sousaphones.Mark wrote: Sun Oct 05, 2025 12:13 pm Sounds interesting. I am a little concerned about the use of the term "Bass Horn". Maybe the author got that from one of the band directors?
What's it "called"...?? What am I "called"...??
CALL me for lunch !!!
the book:
poorly researched, as he's never made the pilgrimage here to actually view and audit them
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the elephant
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Re: “The Perfect Tuba” (book)
It was more commonly used than "tuba" back in the day.Mark wrote: Sun Oct 05, 2025 12:13 pm Sounds interesting. I am a little concerned about the use of the term "Bass Horn". Maybe the author got that from one of the band directors?
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Re: “The Perfect Tuba” (book)
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Last edited by MiBrassFS on Fri Nov 07, 2025 5:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- the elephant (Sun Nov 02, 2025 7:56 am) • bloke (Sun Nov 02, 2025 9:06 am)
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bloke
- Mid South Music
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Re: “The Perfect Tuba” (book)
I've posted endlessly about a friend of mine who practiced several hours a night under his own instruction and practically auditioned into Pershing's Own in the 12th grade with an economy grade (36K) fiberglass sousaphone.
Even with someone like that in the band back in the early 1970s, I really didn't hear the words "sousaphone" or "tuba" spoken very often by any of us nor our band director. It was "bass horn" which referred to either.
Yes, I know this post is redundant but it is so for emphasis .. and yes, we knew who Bill Bell was, and we even knew that the instrument he was holding in that picture in his etude book was an E-flat sousaphone...EVEN THOUGH our parents' incomes were modest and we lived in "the south". We even knew about Miraphone, Meinl-Weston, B&M, and B&S, if you can believe that.
Even with someone like that in the band back in the early 1970s, I really didn't hear the words "sousaphone" or "tuba" spoken very often by any of us nor our band director. It was "bass horn" which referred to either.
Yes, I know this post is redundant but it is so for emphasis .. and yes, we knew who Bill Bell was, and we even knew that the instrument he was holding in that picture in his etude book was an E-flat sousaphone...EVEN THOUGH our parents' incomes were modest and we lived in "the south". We even knew about Miraphone, Meinl-Weston, B&M, and B&S, if you can believe that.