Yeah, he's quite a character - not even afraid of being self-deprecatory in a humorous way. I used to dig the sound of a tuba but less so these days - the sound reminds me of something like a thick goose-down blanket. When it is used in an Orchestra I find the sound to be very opaque and unwieldy.
However, in a brass band it comes into its own. Yes, Wagner and the other ultra-romantics specified for a tuba in most of their orchestral scores but lately I fantasize about substituting a Cimbasso to play the tuba part.
Personally I like the tuba in orchestral works, particularly Pictures At An Exhibition. There's a beautiful tuba solo in it. Enjoy it in brass band as well.
I like the Tuba Solo in the *Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg* overture. Please don't think that I'm against the Tuba - nothing could be further from the truth. My apprehension comes from hearing too many botched performances - the tubist couldn't be part of the ensemble because the sound blanketed the rest of the orchestra - not in volume but the timbre of the sound.
I have yet to find a good sound file featuring a Cimbasso. I almost bought one a few years ago but since the sound is so similar to the Contrabass Trombone w/slide, I felt that it would be superfluous.
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