+Hi Hi I disagree.. While I personally think Tuba has a better sound for a Brass quintet, there is no way that a bass trombone has a "completely inappropriate sound" for the foundation of a brass quintet. A lot of times, the blend is easier with a bass trombonist since the timbre of all 5 instruments is closer.. Also, there are plenty of brass quintets with bass trombone instead of Tuba. Triton, and American Brass Quintet quickly come to mind, and they sound great!
+Brian Johnston Listen to a wind ensemble with bass trombones covering the tuba part and you will see the foundation of the group is sacrificed immensely and everything sounds off. It's the same with a quintet. Of course the American Brass Quintet sound great, they are great players. But they don't sound like a group with a tuba as the bass voice such as Empire or Canadian.
Please no bass trombone on the tuba part. It sticks out like a sore thumb and misses the point of a homogeneous brass quintet. Sir Malcolm's orchestration is immaculate and shouldn't be tampered with. The tempo could perhaps go up a notch and perhaps bring the volume down a tad. The environment has lots of reverb so shorter notes would help. Good playing all round through.
Brass quintet isn't homogenous to begin with. Trumpets and trombones are cylindrical instruments unlike Tuba and Horn which are conical. Having a bass trombone adds another cylindrical instrument and makes it no more or less homogenous. Having a preference for Tuba is one thing but arguing with the prospect of homogenity in mind is wrong.
Having played the quintet under the guidance of Sir Malcolm I can offer that he wrote it to be played most definitely by a tuba. Are you a brass player by chance? So you're saying that a brass ensemble is not homogeneous?
Aidan Sandel The tuba is such a subtle and very important part of the quintet having a bass trombone loses the beauty and grace of the writing however good the trombonist is.
That being said, these are members of the Philadelphia orchestra, some of the best brass players on the planet for their time. I assume they have a great knowledge of the quintet's nature and its repertoire.
Beautiful! Thanks for posting this.
Good Old Boys Club.
Was a tuba player unavailable? A bass trombone has a completely inappropriate sound for putting the foundation on a quintet.
+Hi Hi I disagree.. While I personally think Tuba has a better sound for a Brass quintet, there is no way that a bass trombone has a "completely inappropriate sound" for the foundation of a brass quintet. A lot of times, the blend is easier with a bass trombonist since the timbre of all 5 instruments is closer.. Also, there are plenty of brass quintets with bass trombone instead of Tuba. Triton, and American Brass Quintet quickly come to mind, and they sound great!
+Brian Johnston Listen to a wind ensemble with bass trombones covering the tuba part and you will see the foundation of the group is sacrificed immensely and everything sounds off. It's the same with a quintet. Of course the American Brass Quintet sound great, they are great players. But they don't sound like a group with a tuba as the bass voice such as Empire or Canadian.
Please no bass trombone on the tuba part. It sticks out like a sore thumb and misses the point of a homogeneous brass quintet. Sir Malcolm's orchestration is immaculate and shouldn't be tampered with. The tempo could perhaps go up a notch and perhaps bring the volume down a tad. The environment has lots of reverb so shorter notes would help. Good playing all round through.
Brass quintet isn't homogenous to begin with. Trumpets and trombones are cylindrical instruments unlike Tuba and Horn which are conical. Having a bass trombone adds another cylindrical instrument and makes it no more or less homogenous. Having a preference for Tuba is one thing but arguing with the prospect of homogenity in mind is wrong.
Having played the quintet under the guidance of Sir Malcolm I can offer that he wrote it to be played most definitely by a tuba. Are you a brass player by chance? So you're saying that a brass ensemble is not homogeneous?
Aidan Sandel The tuba is such a subtle and very important part of the quintet having a bass trombone loses the beauty and grace of the writing however good the trombonist is.
I am a brass player and yes I am saying that a brass ensemble is not entirely homogeneous. I wasn't saying the bass trombone is a better fit.
That being said, these are members of the Philadelphia orchestra, some of the best brass players on the planet for their time. I assume they have a great knowledge of the quintet's nature and its repertoire.