Contrabass Digest

1999-04-30

From: Heliconman@aol.com
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 03:28:19 EDT
Subject: Contrabass Tubas
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.com

>We know that Harvard owns the horn with Sam Pilafian in the picture, and that
>Carl Fischer in NY has another one on display in supposedly unplayable
>condition.  But who has Paxson's subcontrabass tuba that Hoffnung played
>"hiding" in their basement?  Any leads, contrabassers????
>
>Kindest regards,
>Steve Marcus (SEMarcus@aol.com)
>http://members.delphi.com/stevemarcus/index.html

New leads!!!
Today, I went to visit the Harvard Band with a fellow tuba player buddy and
we played, as best we could, the legendary Harvard BBB-flat Tuba made by
"Besson & Sons, London England, Carl Fischer, U.S Agent, New York" (reading
the engraving right off the yard wide bell) Sam Pilafian had done a
performance of "Asleep In The Deep" on this Great Beast about 5 years ago.
The Harvard Band holds its reunions every 5 years and the tuba is hauled out
for the celebratory concert. I was shown an issue of T.U.B.A. Journal from
1988 with a photo of Tom Everett (band director) and a band officer whose
name escapes me holding up the tuba with a lovely coed band member contained
within its huge throat. Mr Everett told me on the phone that the last 3
soloists on the horn had reinvented the fingerings to make this giant sound
properly. I was able to actually attempt to play the monster for about 30
minutes and had a VERY difficult time producing a well rounded nicely
resonating note. Probably due mostly to the fact that I was using a normal
Bach 18 mouthpiece with a sousaphone neck as an adaptor to the tuba's lead
pipe, which is 3/8 to 1/2 inch in diameter. The fit was airtight, but perhaps
a larger bore would have improved the sound. As it was, I was
hyperventilating as I tried to go for sub-pedal tones. I should mention the
original (Besson?) CB mouthpiece had been stolen a while back, so that is why
we were forced to use the normal size tuba MP. The 1 inch diameter valves
worked great after a bit of Blue Juice. The brass valve buttons are the size
of half dollars with a big stretch of the fingers to boot. The weight of the
horn requires two hefty folks to carry it....maybe 100 pounds. Now I don't
know at what point that Carl Fischer's in New York was supposed to have had
their CB tuba, but I wouldn't feel too far off bass...errrr...base calling
THIS one unplayable and it IS engraved Carl Fischer, New York. Is this other
tuba at Carl Fischer's a Besson, too???
 Lastly, I picked up a copy of "brass Instruments" by Anthony Baines this
week and it refers on page 254 to 3 sub-bass horns: "a sub-bass in EE flat by
Couesnon, in the Boosey & Hawkes Collection, has valve bore 20 mm., while yet
larger was a BBB flat bass used in America in the Gilmore Band, 1893,
described by Bessarof as 208 cm. tall with 80 cm. bell and valve bore 25 mm.,
almost one inch. Another, by Besson, is now in the possesion of the Harvard
University Band." One of these tubas was rumored to have been built for Sousa
and could possibly be the same horn used in the Gilmore band in 1893. Gilmore
died in 1892 and the band carried on after him, although many members of
Gilmore's Band joined the brand new Sousa's Band, which played its first
concert only 3 days after Gilmore's death. Perhaps the tubist was playing for
both bands. BTW, I was told that Gilmore's Band recorded an Edison cylinder
recording of "God Save The King", released in about 1897. I wonder if that
tuba is on it?!!
 I might call Fischer's to see if their tuba is still in their posession.
Seems possible that the Harvard Carl Fischer/Besson tuba could actually be
the one from Carl Fischer, New York. Anyone on the other side of the Big Pond
want to contact Boosey & Hawkes about that Couesnon EE flat?
It was a fun day, although a little disappointing that the horn didn't
resonate very well.
I may get to pictures and perhaps a wav file or two on Monday after doing 2
parades and helping my brother move. Hmmmm...maybe Tuesday after I wake up!
hehehehe
Cheers!
Heliconman@aol.com
---------------------------------------------------------

From: SEMarcus@aol.com
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 09:01:25 EDT
Subject: Re: Contrabass Tubas
Reply-To: contrabass@contrabass.com
In a message dated 4/30/99 2:29:18 AM, Heliconman@aol.com writes:

<<Today, I went to visit the Harvard Band with a fellow tuba player buddy and
we played, as best we could, the legendary Harvard BBB-flat Tuba made by
"Besson & Sons, London England, Carl Fischer, U.S Agent, New York" ...Now I don't
know at what point that Carl Fischer's in New York was supposed to have had
their CB tuba, but I wouldn't feel too far off bass...errrr...base calling
THIS one unplayable and it IS engraved Carl Fischer, New York. Is this other
tuba at Carl Fischer's a Besson, too???...BTW, I was told that Gilmore's Band
recorded an Edison cylinder recording of "God Save The King", released in
about 1897. I wonder if that tuba is on it?!!

If it is, it's probably almost inaudible over the cylinder's noise.
 
<<I might call Fischer's to see if their tuba is still in their posession.
Seems possible that the Harvard Carl Fischer/Besson tuba could actually be
the one from Carl Fischer, New York.

They are two distinct horns.  Officials at Carl Fischer confirmed that they
were going to keep their BBBb tuba that had been on display at the now closed
New York retail store, although they didn't know WHERE they were going to
keep it.

<<I may get to pictures and perhaps a wav file or two on Monday...

Please post them!!!  Thanks!

Kindest regards,
Steve Marcus (SEMarcus@aol.com)
BBb Bass, Prairie Brass Band
http://members.delphi.com/stevemarcus/index.html
Director of Sales, THE BEAUTIFUL SOUND, INC.  (630) 325-9999  (Steinway Piano Dealer)
 

 
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