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The tuba, as we all know, is a huge instrument. It is considered among many to be the King Kong of the instrument world. Like the baritone, the tubas ancestry dates back to the invention of the serpent, which was basically this giant bassoon that was curved into the shape of an anaconda. The serpent was invented in France by Edme Guillaume ca 1590. Though metal versions exist, the original and most predominant materials this instrument was fashioned from was wood covered with leather. The mouthpiece was variously made of wood, bone, ivory, oxhorn, ceramic, and various metals such as brass, bronze The tuba eventually evolved into what was called an ophicleide. The ophicleide bears no resemblance to its predecessor because it was made of brass, had keys and pads like a saxophone, and stood upright. The more modern tuba was first patented by Prussian bandmaster Wilhelm Wieprecht and German instrument builder Johann Gottfried Moritz in 1835. This instrument was soon adopted and used by British brass bands. Some famous tuba performers are William J. Bell, Velvet Brown, and Tommy Johnson.
This is the right way to play while standing.
This is the right way to play while sitting.
To learn more about the tuba, check out these sites: http://www.dsokids.com/2001/dso.asp?PageID=216 http://www.csupomona.edu/~dmgrasmick/mu330/EuphoniumTubalect.html |
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