Re: FF/EEb in Band?


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Posted by Rick Denney on February 13, 2001 at 18:27:22:

In Reply to: FF/EEb in Band? posted by David on February 13, 2001 at 16:17:18:

I attended a seminar about a dozen years ago where Ravelli stated that any band without a bass tuba to go along with the section of contrabass tubas was screwing up.

But the contrabass sound should predominate, it seems to me. When there is a divisi part, there only needs to be one instrument on the upper line, with everyone else on the lower line, whether or not you use a bass tuba on that upper line. Everyone always wants to play the upper line, thinking it's the solo lick, but the sound that does the most good is the lower line. For this reason, I played F in the San Antonio Municipal Band for divisi parts, while the better players in the section made the huge bottom that our section was known for. That put each of us where we would contribute the most.

When there was no divisi, or where the composer was American and obviously writing for an entire section of contrabasses, I'd play the big horn.

I like the sound of a band with a mix of tubas, as long as the bottom is rock-solid.

Rick "now I play the lower part" Denney


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