Posted by Rick Denney on January 11, 2001 at 14:02:46:
In Reply to: Re: Re: need help fast! posted by Gerald J. on January 11, 2001 at 13:03:28:
This seems the poorest reason to request a mute on a tuba. In fact, a muted tuba has to be played with enough support to overcome the loss of control over pitch caused by the mute. I find it much easier to play quietly without the mute.
It seems to me that the only reason for a composer to request a mute is to effect a change in timbre. For example, Ravel requests a mute for a held high Ab in Pictures, followed two bars later by an short, loud unmuted low Eb. The Ab needs a lot of edge to match the muted trumpets and trombones, and the note is marked F or something like that. Clearly, Ravel wanted a special effect.
But yanking that mute out between that high Ab and the low Eb without adding to the percussion section will test your left-hand coordination.
Rick "Clang!" Denney