There is something euphonium-like in the sound. It makes sense that tuba players would have been pulled from the euphonium sections of military and brass bands in the UK. Just curious about the valve configuration - is this a compensating system or the more usual 4-5 valve f-tuba system?
Yes, sources suggest that this instrument was almost certainly based on a euphonium (the common orchestral instrument in the UK at the time) rather than an E-flat bombardon. English F tubas have a curious fourth/fifth valve tuning system by modern standards: non-compensating, the fourth valve is a large major 3rd (five semitones), and the fifth valve is a large semitone. More info here: collections.ed.ac.uk/mimed/record/14901
I believe that those models were a hybrid of these tubas and Eb bombardons that emerged a generation later into the mid-twentieth century as larger instruments started becoming more popular in orchestras worldwide (these original F tubas are much closer in form to a euphonium). Clifford Bevan's book "The Tuba Family" has a detailed history of the later development of the English F tuba if you want to look into things further!
There is something euphonium-like in the sound. It makes sense that tuba players would have been pulled from the euphonium sections of military and brass bands in the UK. Just curious about the valve configuration - is this a compensating system or the more usual 4-5 valve f-tuba system?
Yes, sources suggest that this instrument was almost certainly based on a euphonium (the common orchestral instrument in the UK at the time) rather than an E-flat bombardon. English F tubas have a curious fourth/fifth valve tuning system by modern standards: non-compensating, the fourth valve is a large major 3rd (five semitones), and the fifth valve is a large semitone. More info here: collections.ed.ac.uk/mimed/record/14901
Thank you for the link. Very helpful.
@@jackamck
Very nice sound!
Thanks for posting this video! Is your tuba similar to the old Besson/Boosy 4 valve compensating F tuba?
I believe that those models were a hybrid of these tubas and Eb bombardons that emerged a generation later into the mid-twentieth century as larger instruments started becoming more popular in orchestras worldwide (these original F tubas are much closer in form to a euphonium). Clifford Bevan's book "The Tuba Family" has a detailed history of the later development of the English F tuba if you want to look into things further!
nice tuba
Tubas are also capable of playing softly.
My thoughts exactly but it did sound good