Posted by B Harvey on February 26, 2001 at 02:43:36:
In Reply to: BB industry! posted by Finally! on February 25, 2001 at 13:08:54:
The only reason BBb tubas "went out of style" is because Jacobs modernized the CC. He was the best and everybody was playing follow the leader and jumped on a the Jacobs bandwagon. An important aspect that many people overlook now when criticizing BBb tubas and tuba players is that Berlioz, Wagner, Bruckner, Mahler, Strauss, Prokofiev, and Stravinsky didn't write for CC tuba. They composed music with the BBb tuba in mind.
Another thing to ponder would be why one would want to play a CC tuba when the trombones, the low brass relatives tubas want to blend with, are in the key of Bb. Wouldn't it make more since to have a better blending low brass section all playing Bb instruments rather that being in the key of C making it a little more difficult to tune with your section? Sure there's the argument that the trumpets are in the key of C but how often do tubas play with them?
It all just doesn't make sense to me. European tubists still primarily use BBb tubas. I just don't get it.
b harvey