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| Why the blazes do they make tubas in 4 different keys? |
Friday, 14 September 2012
My New Tuba
I suppose you could say that I have an old-school British brass player's approach to equipment. I settled on the tuba which suited my needs best (a Besson BE-983) and found the mouthpiece which suited me best (thanks Andy Grappy!), and I've stuck with that. I'm very much a believer in not fixing things which aren't broken. That instrument has been my main tuba and has served me fantastically well in the wide range of music I am involved in (see here).
Maybe once or twice a year, I might have popped into a tuba shop to try some different models, and I was very pleased never to have found anything which I wanted to play for more than about 5 minutes. That was until I had a blow on a YFB-821, five years ago, and suddenly an hour had passed without me noticing. I wrote about it at the time here. I realised that this tuba would be a very good companion to my Besson, particularly on some of the gigs which would suit a smaller bass tuba (Shibusashirazu, Orquesta Libre, and the current production of "K.Faust" which I'm involved in, for example).
Well, finally I took one home today, bought from the fantastic shop TUBA 88, with the kind help, amazing service and quite incredible attention to detail of Mr. Masanori Nakamura. I wholeheartedly recommend visiting his shop, or if you aren't in Tokyo, do check out his website here.
Maybe once or twice a year, I might have popped into a tuba shop to try some different models, and I was very pleased never to have found anything which I wanted to play for more than about 5 minutes. That was until I had a blow on a YFB-821, five years ago, and suddenly an hour had passed without me noticing. I wrote about it at the time here. I realised that this tuba would be a very good companion to my Besson, particularly on some of the gigs which would suit a smaller bass tuba (Shibusashirazu, Orquesta Libre, and the current production of "K.Faust" which I'm involved in, for example).
Well, finally I took one home today, bought from the fantastic shop TUBA 88, with the kind help, amazing service and quite incredible attention to detail of Mr. Masanori Nakamura. I wholeheartedly recommend visiting his shop, or if you aren't in Tokyo, do check out his website here.
With Tuba Master Nakamura San
Anyway, I won't bang on about the instrument, as there's a fair amount of information about it online.
But here's some photos of it, in all its handmade beauty! Now I just need to learn to play an F tuba......
Monday, 3 September 2012
K.ファウスト/K.FAUST
Late summer has arrived. The humidity is slightly less crazy and there have been a few storms around Tokyo. Yesterday I started rehearsals for my fourth production with Kushida Kazuyoshi. It feels great to be back in the company of such great and creative actors, musicians and performers, and to be reunited with friends. Kushida San's timely production of the Faust legend, "K.ファウスト/K.Faust" will run from October 6th to 14th, Setagaya Public Theatre, Tokyo, followed by October 19th to 21st at Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre, Matsumoto, Nagano.
You can find full information here- http://k-faust.com/
Featuring the great Sasano Takashi as Faust, French Circus artists and music by Coba. It should be really special!!
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