Brass on the Low Side

Christopher Heinze

MusEd259

Tuesday September 25, 2007

The Low Brass Family

• Trombone• Baritone• Euphonium• Tuba • Sousaphone

The Trombone

• The modern version of the Sackbut• Used in Renaissance religious ensembles

mostly for voice doubling.

• Used in the orchestra first in the 18th century• The first prominent symphonic use was in

Beethoven’s Symphony #5

The Trombone Family• Alto Trombone• Tenor Trombone• F trigger

• Range can go to a C2

• Bass Trombone• F and G trigger• Range extends to a

B1• Contrabass

Trombone• A perfect fourth

lower than the tenor and bass

Construction

• Made of brass most commonly• Nickel and Silver are also used

• Cylindrical bore• 9 feet (trigger trombone)• S shaped• A cup mouth piece where sound is

produced by the buzzing of one’s lips.• How a Trombone is Made!!

Key and Transposition

• B-flat

• Transposition is CRAZY!!!• It doesn’t transpose it is written in Concert

pitch

Clef and Range

• Written in mostly the bass clef but can be found in the tenor clef and sometimes the alto clef.

• Range from E2 to F5 for tenor and bass.

Resources and Tips for Beginners

• Keep in mind the shape, length, and weight of the instrument.

• The size of the mouth piece.

• www.Musicked.com

• www.dsokids.com

The Tuba• Development began in the early nineteenth

century• The ophicleide was being produced in the

1820’s. A forerunner of the tuba was keyed.• In 1835 the first bass tuba in F was made by

Johann Gottfried Moritz and Wilheim Wieprecht.

• In 1849 the helicon bass was introduced. • Wrapped around the body

• In 1870 the Sax-horns were invented by Adolfe Sax (the same Adolfe of the saxophones.)• Adopted by French Orchestras

Making a Tuba

• Usually made from brass, but can also be made from nickel and silver.

• Conical bore• 18-12 feet of tubing depending on the key

and type of the tuba.• Made a variety of sizes: 3/4 4/4 5/4 6/4• Usually has four valves

• Models for younger students may only have three.

Types of Tubas• Euphoniums/Baritones

• Tenor Tuba pitched an octave higher

• Euphoniums usually have an extra valve

• Upright/Bell Front Tuba• BBb Tuba

• Most Common

• CC Tuba• Orchestras

• Eb Tuba• Bombardons (1800’s)

• F Tuba (Wagner Tuba)• Easier to play higher

notes• Used in Orchestras

More Tubas!!•Tuba d’amore- made from wood and nickel

•The Alpenhorn- from the alps•Made from a solid piece of soft wood, usually spruce but sometimes pine.

•The Sousaphone- John P. Sousa •Used by marching bands •Convertible Tubas

Sound of the Tuba

• Very low but can be mellow and soothing

• It is often used to play quick staccato lines` but can also play sustained melodies.

• Plays in Bass Clef

• Played by buzzing of the lips.

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Key, Transposition, and Range

• BBb Tuba• Plays a written Bb

sounds a C

• Key of C• No transposition

• Exceptions-• Wagner Tuba (F)

Introducing the Tuba

• Really young student may benefit from the baritone at first

• A 3/4 tuba can be used in middle school aged• The weight of the tuba• The size of the mouth piece• www.Musicked.com• http://www.nemusicpub.com/tips/tuba.html• www.dsokids.com

Bibliography• http://philharmonia.co.uk/thesoundexchange/

home• http://www.Youtube.com• http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary• http://playmusic.org• http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/

Union/7926/history.htm• http://musicappreciation.suite101.com/

article.cfm/the_tuba_and_how_it_is_played• http://www.bandparenting.net/tuba.html