Posted by Lee Stofer on June 15, 2003 at 19:11:51:
In Reply to: Re: use of F tubas in Europe posted by I think.. on June 14, 2003 at 11:01:13:
I think you have hit upon the heart of the matter - the tuba players in European (and many American) orchestras are playing parts intended to be played on an F tuba, so they play an F tuba. When a composer wanted the additional depth in the 19th century, they generally added a 2nd tuba, a contrabass in BBb.
Lee Stofer