I play both a Besson 2051 (not 2052) and the Sterling Virtuoso with 300mm heavy red brass bell. The Sterling is a HEAVY horn and physically large. I use it for brass band and large wind or tuba ensemble as well as outdoor solo work. I use the Besson for small ensemble, quintet, tuba quartet and indoor solo work. I love both horns, enjoy playing them and am glad I can afford two! Both are GREAT!
I use a Wick 4AL when playing my Besson Prestige 2051. I use either an Alliance Prestige 3 or the Wick 4AL when playing my Sterling Virtuoso. Both are nominally 26mm rim size. The Alliance gets a deeper sound and has sharper rim. The Wick gets a warmer sound, particularly on my Besson.
Hello, I use the "Manual" mic level setting on the Zoom Q2HD with the thumbwheel at about "5". I believe the recording sound field was either 30 or 90 degrees.
I Very much enjoyed your performance; I play and teach tuba and do lower brass clinics. I PLAY AT Euphonium and in my next life hope to have the guidance and wisdom to start on it !
WOW I'm a Sophomore in high school and I'm going to play this for an audition and I really do love your tone, style, and everything else! I'm going to try my best to get up to your playing standard on this piece
The Q2HD was mounted on a microphone stand at full height (about level with the bell) and about 10-12' in front of me. I was about 8-10' in front of the piano.
Doug Ruby, Congratulations on this very fine recording. Back at Cal in the early 1970's, Mitch Jones and I used to be astounded how much better your sound was (especially on the Holst Suites) than the "professionals" heard on the Eastman recordings. I'll keep an eye out for future performances -- maybe you'll come out West again soon!
Charles, many thanks. I do wish I could be in California more frequently and participate in some of the Cal Band Alumni events, but alas, I am a confirmed New Englander these days, 3000 miles away. I still perform in a number of ensembles, most notably the New England Brass Band. I also travel to the UK each summer to play in the International Brass Band Summer School. Being a semi-professional musician is my retirement "vocation"!
Maestro, my Sterling has a tuning slide trigger. I play the 6th partial Eb, E, F 1sr, 2nd, and open with full trigger on Eb and E and half trigger on F. I do use alternate fingerings on high A (1-3) and occasionally on high Bb (1). High B natural is the usual awful jote. I use 2nd valve on that and D above high Bb.
yea....nice nice job!!! nice to hear dynamics and intonation! and your horn isn't sharp on the high F's!!!are you using the 4th valve with the first on your high Eflats??? nice! i haven't played this piece since my senior recital at IU in 1981. it really brings me back! thanks!
I began each of the mnovements with a metronome against the printed tempi from the 1991 edition of the Concerto. Check your score and see if you have the 1972 or the 1991 editions. Listen to Trevor Groom or Steve Mead and you will see that they take the 2nd movement a bit faster than the original edition. Joseph Horovitz changed the tempi between the two versions. Trevor is a personal friend. Even with Mr orovitz conducting, he never took it as slow as written in the 2nd movement.
Is it possible u come to the Bahamas to c me n person u can come to my school to c me n action an meet my music teacher Mr Clarke at CV bethel senior high school plz come sir
In your opinion, which would you say is a better all-around euph for chamber,solo,and band work? The Besson Prestige 2052 or the 300mm Sterling Virtuoso with Heavy Red Brass Bell?
Nice job that really seems like a tough piece but i'm confused because I might play this for solo and ensemble this year and on fba it only says for movement one, so would my part end at the spot you stopped and picked back up?
Nice job, Doug! You really capture the "British sound" for this performance, and your musicality is very fitting for this fine piece.
It's so refreshing to see someone who really delves into the score. =) Thank you!
And brilliantly performed as well!
Great job Doug! Love the sound you are getting.
I play both a Besson 2051 (not 2052) and the Sterling Virtuoso with 300mm heavy red brass bell. The Sterling is a HEAVY horn and physically large. I use it for brass band and large wind or tuba ensemble as well as outdoor solo work. I use the Besson for small ensemble, quintet, tuba quartet and indoor solo work. I love both horns, enjoy playing them and am glad I can afford two! Both are GREAT!
beautiful euphonium
I use a Wick 4AL when playing my Besson Prestige 2051. I use either an Alliance Prestige 3 or the Wick 4AL when playing my Sterling Virtuoso. Both are nominally 26mm rim size. The Alliance gets a deeper sound and has sharper rim. The Wick gets a warmer sound, particularly on my Besson.
Wow, you must be very talented! Fear not and learn all you can from such a difficult piece.
Best of luck!
I'm playing this for College auditions/my solo for next year and I'm happy to have this video as a nice reference point for musicality and such :)
Hello, I use the "Manual" mic level setting on the Zoom Q2HD with the thumbwheel at about "5". I believe the recording sound field was either 30 or 90 degrees.
I Very much enjoyed your performance; I play and teach tuba and do lower brass clinics. I PLAY AT Euphonium and in my next life hope to have the guidance and wisdom to start on it !
Nice vibrato in second movement. Tasteful and emotive.
WOW I'm a Sophomore in high school and I'm going to play this for an audition and I really do love your tone, style, and everything else! I'm going to try my best to get up to your playing standard on this piece
The Q2HD was mounted on a microphone stand at full height (about level with the bell) and about 10-12' in front of me. I was about 8-10' in front of the piano.
Class man! Hope to see you soon!
wow... this is fantastic
I love your rich, singing, very British sound.
Bravo Doug
Doug Ruby, Congratulations on this very fine recording. Back at Cal in the early 1970's, Mitch Jones and I used to be astounded how much better your sound was (especially on the Holst Suites) than the "professionals" heard on the Eastman recordings. I'll keep an eye out for future performances -- maybe you'll come out West again soon!
Charles, many thanks. I do wish I could be in California more frequently and participate in some of the Cal Band Alumni events, but alas, I am a confirmed New Englander these days, 3000 miles away. I still perform in a number of ensembles, most notably the New England Brass Band. I also travel to the UK each summer to play in the International Brass Band Summer School. Being a semi-professional musician is my retirement "vocation"!
Maestro, my Sterling has a tuning slide trigger. I play the 6th partial Eb, E, F 1sr, 2nd, and open with full trigger on Eb and E and half trigger on F. I do use alternate fingerings on high A (1-3) and occasionally on high Bb (1). High B natural is the usual awful jote. I use 2nd valve on that and D above high Bb.
oh...that reminds me - I worked like a dog to get this right! I wish I had the tape of it. M. Dee stewart was my teacher that year.
yea....nice nice job!!! nice to hear dynamics and intonation! and your horn isn't sharp on the high F's!!!are you using the 4th valve with the first on your high Eflats??? nice! i haven't played this piece since my senior recital at IU in 1981. it really brings me back! thanks!
I enjoyed that.
Oh my God... I'm doing this peice for my Grade 8 exam! I would love to be able to play it this good haha
+Michael “bigmick1997” Speirs Best wishes on your Grade 8.
I began each of the mnovements with a metronome against the printed tempi from the 1991 edition of the Concerto. Check your score and see if you have the 1972 or the 1991 editions. Listen to Trevor Groom or Steve Mead and you will see that they take the 2nd movement a bit faster than the original edition. Joseph Horovitz changed the tempi between the two versions. Trevor is a personal friend. Even with Mr orovitz conducting, he never took it as slow as written in the 2nd movement.
I have practiced this piece off and on since 2007, However, I worked for about 2 months prior to the recording.
Yes. Movement 2 is the slow 2nd movement. Movement 3 is the most technically demanding and requires a developed triple tongue.
Good sound
1 day I gonna b the next Douglas Ruby on the baritone
+Joshua, many thanks. All you have to do is get old like me and practice for 50+ years.....
Is it possible u come to the Bahamas to c me n person u can come to my school to c me n action an meet my music teacher Mr Clarke at CV bethel senior high school plz come sir
If I ever do come to the Bahamas, I'd love to see you, but I have no plans in the near future...
Maestro. I use a trigger on my horn to "flatten" the 6th partial and a few other notes.
In your opinion, which would you say is a better all-around euph for chamber,solo,and band work? The Besson Prestige 2052 or the 300mm Sterling Virtuoso with Heavy Red Brass Bell?
Really Nice sound and music!!
May I ask what mic level did you used to record on your Zoom Q2HD?
Low, Auto or High frequency?
thanks XD
Nice job that really seems like a tough piece but i'm confused because I might play this for solo and ensemble this year and on fba it only says for movement one, so would my part end at the spot you stopped and picked back up?
Congratulations to Doug! I know you sound a Virtuoso. Can I ask you to use mouthpiece?
Davide, I use a Wick 4AL. (sometimes I use an Alliance E3 as well)
Thanks Douglas!
What mouthpiece do you use
How long did you practice this song before you recorded it?
It is really a hard song, I am eight, and I have this song for my grade eight exam, and I got 128
What kind of mouthpiece do you use?
Doug, you know the Sterling Royale?
Yes I do. It is the same horn as the Sterling Virtuoso, but has no options and is made using only Yellow Brass. Nice horn, great sound.
Thanks Douglas!
Douglas You know if the BB1 mouthpiece is produced with small shank?
this is my mum's account. I am nine and I have to play this song.