Subcontrabass tuba
Encyclopedia
The subcontrabass tuba is an extension of the tuba
family below the modern contrabass tuba. At least five known examples have been created, all pitched in BBBb, sounding a full octave lower than standard BBb contrabass tubas. Music for them is written in bass clef sounding a full octave lower than notated.
(1814–1894), the inventor of the saxophone
, who dubbed it the subcontrabass saxhorn. These instruments were all very rare and never received a great deal of attention. The first two modern instruments were built by Besson
on the suggestion of American Bandmaster John Philip Sousa
who toured using one in his band from 1896-1898.
Later, in the 1950s, British musician Gerard Hoffnung
commissioned the London firm of Paxman to create a subcontrabass tuba for use in his comedic music festivals, and also commissioned a work: Variations on "Annie Laurie" (1956) by Gordon Jacob, specifically including the instrument .
Although these very rare instruments are difficult to locate today, one of them is owned by Harvard University
Music Department, and used periodically for concerts, and a few modern works have been scored for them specifically by composers Henry Brant
, Adam Gilberti
and Blaise Garza
. A tuba pitched in FFF was made in Kraslice by Bohland & Fuchs probably during 1910 or 1911 and was destined for the World Exhibition in New York in 1913 (Green). This tuba is "playable", but two persons are needed; one to operate the valves and one to blow into the mouthpiece. Finally, Dr. Frederick Young plays a King BBb tuba that was converted into a double tuba (in BBb and EEE (natural)) by Dietrich Kleine-Horst (of the Herbert Gronitz Brass Instrument Company in Hamburg, Germany) in 1990. The BBb side is a contrabass tuba, and the EEE side is a subcontrabass tuba.
Tuba
The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
family below the modern contrabass tuba. At least five known examples have been created, all pitched in BBBb, sounding a full octave lower than standard BBb contrabass tubas. Music for them is written in bass clef sounding a full octave lower than notated.
History
The first existence of an instrument of this sort was designed by the Parisian instrument innovator Adolphe SaxAdolphe Sax
Antoine-Joseph "Adolphe" Sax was a Belgian musical instrument designer and musician who played the flute and clarinet, and is best known for having invented the saxophone.-Biography:...
(1814–1894), the inventor of the saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, who dubbed it the subcontrabass saxhorn. These instruments were all very rare and never received a great deal of attention. The first two modern instruments were built by Besson
Besson (company)
Besson is a manufacturer of brass musical instrument. It is owned by Buffet Crampon, which bought Besson in 2006 from The Music Group.The company was formed in 1837 by Gustave Auguste Besson, who at the age of 18 produced a revolutionary design of cornet which surpassed all contemporary models. His...
on the suggestion of American Bandmaster John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era, known particularly for American military and patriotic marches. Because of his mastery of march composition, he is known as "The March King" or the "American March King" due to his British counterpart Kenneth J....
who toured using one in his band from 1896-1898.
Later, in the 1950s, British musician Gerard Hoffnung
Gerard Hoffnung
Gerard Hoffnung was an artist and musician, best known for his humorous works.- Early years :Born in Berlin, and named Gerhard, he was the only child of a well-to-do Jewish couple, Hildegard and Ludwig Hoffnung...
commissioned the London firm of Paxman to create a subcontrabass tuba for use in his comedic music festivals, and also commissioned a work: Variations on "Annie Laurie" (1956) by Gordon Jacob, specifically including the instrument .
Although these very rare instruments are difficult to locate today, one of them is owned by Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
Music Department, and used periodically for concerts, and a few modern works have been scored for them specifically by composers Henry Brant
Henry Brant
Henry Dreyfuss Brant was a Canadian-born American composer. An expert orchestrator with a flair for experimentation, many of Brant's works featured spatialization techniques.- Biography :...
, Adam Gilberti
Adam Gilberti
Adam Gilberti a composer, born in Hayward, California on June 10, 1981 .He received his M.A. in music theory and composition from the University of California, Riverside....
and Blaise Garza
Blaise Garza
Blaise Garrett Garza is an American actor and musician. He played the role of Gregory Hudson on Another World, a role he played from 1994 to 1996....
. A tuba pitched in FFF was made in Kraslice by Bohland & Fuchs probably during 1910 or 1911 and was destined for the World Exhibition in New York in 1913 (Green). This tuba is "playable", but two persons are needed; one to operate the valves and one to blow into the mouthpiece. Finally, Dr. Frederick Young plays a King BBb tuba that was converted into a double tuba (in BBb and EEE (natural)) by Dietrich Kleine-Horst (of the Herbert Gronitz Brass Instrument Company in Hamburg, Germany) in 1990. The BBb side is a contrabass tuba, and the EEE side is a subcontrabass tuba.