Brass on the Low Side

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Brass on the Low Side

• Christopher Heinze
• MusEd259
• Tuesday September 25, 2007

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The Low Brass Family

• Trombone
• Baritone
• Euphonium
• Tuba
• Sousaphone

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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
  Beethovens Symphony 5

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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

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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 ones lips.
• How a Trombone is Made!!

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Key and Transposition

• B-flat
• Transposition is CRAZY!!!
• It doesnt transpose it is written in Concert
  pitch

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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.

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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

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The Tuba

• Development began in the early nineteenth century
• The ophicleide was being produced in the 1820s.
  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

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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.

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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 (1800s)
• F Tuba (Wagner Tuba)
• Easier to play higher notes
• Used in Orchestras

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More Tubas!!

• Tuba damore- 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

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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.

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Key, Transposition, and Range

• BBb Tuba
• Plays a written Bb sounds a C
• Key of C
• No transposition
• Exceptions-
• Wagner Tuba (F)

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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

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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/hi
  story.htm
• http//musicappreciation.suite101.com/article.cfm/
  the_tuba_and_how_it_is_played
• http//www.bandparenting.net/tuba.html