Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Bydlo - Toscanini and NBC Symphony Orchestra

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    NYC metro area
    Posts
    523

    Bydlo - Toscanini and NBC Symphony Orchestra

    I was listening to this recording yesterday and it seems to me that the Bydlo solo was not being played on a euphonium - or if it was, perhaps the age of the recording affected the timbre. Is anyone familiar with this recording?
    Dean L. Surkin
    Mack Brass MACK-EU1150S, BB1 mouthpiece
    Bach 36B trombone; Bach 6.5AL and Faxx 7C mouthpieces (pBone on loan to granddaughter)
    Steinway 1902 Model A, restored by AC Pianocraft in 1988; Kawai MP8, Yamaha KX-76
    See my avatar: Jazz (the black cockapoo; RIP) and Delilah (the cavapoo) keep me company while practicing

  2. #2
    I assume you mean this one:



    I'm pretty sure that is not a tuba. It almost sounds like a trombone! But at the time this was made it is nearly certain that if someone played it on euphonium it would have been on a small, American-style euphonium. In addition, the treatment of note connections sounds like it is a trombonist who is not comfortable playing a valved instrument and is manipulating the slurs with his tongue.
    Dave Werden (ASCAP)
    Euphonium Soloist, U.S. Coast Guard Band, retired
    Adams Artist (Adams E3)
    Alliance Mouthpiece (DC3)
    YouTube: dwerden
    Facebook: davewerden
    Twitter: davewerden
    Instagram: davewerdeneuphonium

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    NYC metro area
    Posts
    523
    Quote Originally Posted by davewerden View Post
    [snip]I'm pretty sure that is not a tuba. It almost sounds like a trombone! But at the time this was made it is nearly certain that if someone played it on euphonium it would have been on a small, American-style euphonium. In addition, the treatment of note connections sounds like it is a trombonist who is not comfortable playing a valved instrument and is manipulating the slurs with his tongue.
    It doesn't surprise me that the part is played by a trombonist. Doesn't Joseph Alessi play the Bydlo solo when the NY Philharmonic performs "Pictures?" The one time I saw the Philharmonic perform "Pictures," Alessi was on leave that day and they had a guest perform it on euphonium.
    Dean L. Surkin
    Mack Brass MACK-EU1150S, BB1 mouthpiece
    Bach 36B trombone; Bach 6.5AL and Faxx 7C mouthpieces (pBone on loan to granddaughter)
    Steinway 1902 Model A, restored by AC Pianocraft in 1988; Kawai MP8, Yamaha KX-76
    See my avatar: Jazz (the black cockapoo; RIP) and Delilah (the cavapoo) keep me company while practicing

  4. #4
    Quote Originally Posted by dsurkin View Post
    It doesn't surprise me that the part is played by a trombonist. Doesn't Joseph Alessi play the Bydlo solo when the NY Philharmonic performs "Pictures?" The one time I saw the Philharmonic perform "Pictures," Alessi was on leave that day and they had a guest perform it on euphonium.
    No. Al Baer typically plays it on F tuba. Last time, The NY Times Critic made a snide remark which I thought was unwarranted, having been at that performance.

    You may be thinking of Mahler 7, where Joe plays the tenor horn part. He’s played it on a Yamaha Neo English baritone in the past, but the last time I asked him about it he said he’ll probably use euphonium next time.

    Colin Williams as Assoc. Principal trombone normally handles the valve work, although a few years ago Demondrae played Ein Heldenleiben when Colin wasn’t available.

    Don

  5. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by djwpe View Post
    No. Al Baer typically plays it on F tuba. Last time, The NY Times Critic made a snide remark which I thought was unwarranted, having been at that performance.

    Don
    I actually like really hearing it on F tuba, it adds a clumsiness and a big sound that compliments the music well. As a euphonium player who wants to play it again myself I will never admit to having said that.
    --
    Barry

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    West Palm Beach, FL
    Posts
    3,853
    One of the best I’ve heard was by Allessandro Fossi. I think on F tuba.

    -- e̶d̶i̶t̶,̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶p̶l̶a̶y̶e̶d̶ ̶a̶ ̶C̶ ̶t̶u̶b̶a̶--

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx6Eo6liyCg


    Last edited by RickF; 05-01-2022 at 03:48 PM.
    Rick Floyd
    Miraphone 5050 - Warburton BJ / RF mpc
    YEP-641S (recently sold)
    Doug Elliott - 102 rim; I-cup; I-9 shank


    "Always play with a good tone, never louder than lovely, never softer than supported." - author unknown.
    Symphonic Band of the Palm Beaches
    El Cumbanchero (Raphael Hernandez, arr. Naohiro Iwai)
    Chorale and Shaker Dance
    (John Zdechlik)

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    The Netherlands
    Posts
    191
    Quote Originally Posted by RickF View Post
    One of the best I’ve heard was by Allassandro Fossi. I think on F tuba.

    -- edit, he played a C tuba --

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx6Eo6liyCg
    I am pretty sure he plays Bydlo on an F tuba. On his website, he tells a story about the moments before that recording, and he says he dented his C tuba, but just before he says "I took my tubas, and I was finally walking to the theater..."
    I doubt that a professional player with both an F and a C tuba would play Bydlo on his C.
    Also, and more importantly, the tuba he plays in the video looks like a B&S 3100. You can also see the bottom bow of his larger (probably CC) tuba next to him in some shots.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	bs-3100-w-l.jpg 
Views:	1 
Size:	25.1 KB 
ID:	9023
    Last edited by MarChant; 04-26-2022 at 02:54 PM.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    West Palm Beach, FL
    Posts
    3,853
    Thanks Martin. I thought he used his 'F' tuba but then read the scary story of him loosing his car keys and denting his 'C' tuba on the way to the gig. I just assumed he must have used his 'C', but you're right, he did say tubas... plural.

    The story if anyone is interested:
    https://www.alessandrofossi.net/2017...a-performance/
    Rick Floyd
    Miraphone 5050 - Warburton BJ / RF mpc
    YEP-641S (recently sold)
    Doug Elliott - 102 rim; I-cup; I-9 shank


    "Always play with a good tone, never louder than lovely, never softer than supported." - author unknown.
    Symphonic Band of the Palm Beaches
    El Cumbanchero (Raphael Hernandez, arr. Naohiro Iwai)
    Chorale and Shaker Dance
    (John Zdechlik)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •