Posted by Chuck(G) on January 12, 2001 at 12:02:32:
In Reply to: Re: Re: It occurs to me posted by Dale on January 12, 2001 at 11:27:19:
Thanks, Daryl. I ask this question because it seems that tubas are the only brass instrument (sure, old violins are modified to make them playable in modern concert settings, but that's a different matter) that are routinely modified to play in a different pitch.
I've always wondered why this isn't the case with trumpets and other smaller brass, which are far more plentiful, and probably much easier to modify, given their size.
You're absolutely right, there weren't many American-style BAT's in CC a couple of decades ago, and then the logic for modifying (my use of "cut" was not intended to be pejorative) a BBb to CC holds water. The only way to get a CSO-style York was to alter a BBb.
But I don't understand why it's STILL being done. It would scarcely seem to be worth neither the uncertain result nor the labor involved.