Posted by Modern music on November 17, 2003 at 16:27:26:
In Reply to: Re: CC vs. BBb posted by Tabor on November 17, 2003 at 11:54:10:
C20th music frequently has 'no key' (tonal centre) or modulates into keys so remote from the 'home' key that this argument fails to carry much weight for me. I very much doubt composers steer their music to avoid a great deal of flats (those for High School do I suppose).
I wouldn't choose to play Carnival of Venice in C# of course, however all keys are quite playable assuming one is familiar enough with them.
I suspect most Orchestral Tubists simply prefer the slightly improved response one tends to associate with C tubas without sacrificing anything much in 'Contrabass Sound'.
That said, the Germans traditionally use Bb's as their Contrabass just fine. It's more about accepted 'norms' than anything else.