Posted by Frederick J. Young on May 12, 2003 at 12:16:39:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Recording Bell tuba opinions posted by Jim Andrada on May 12, 2003 at 00:37:56:
Directional patterns are given in many acoustics textbooks. You are correct about sitting
in the back, especially under stage curtains. The sounds reaching the audience lack the
very high harmonics that must be present in the attacks to make articulations clear.
Perhaps you have noticed how many brass quintets sit with the upright tuba bell pointing
toward the audience and the French horn also pointing its bell to the audience! The latter is in very poor taste.
Incidently, in the days when professional bands did not ever use rain catchers (they were
thought to be archaic) the bell front bells were turned backward during works where there
were very slow moving passages and especially during the recording of choral works.