What's the highest elevation you've played at?

Tubas, euphoniums, mouthpieces, and anything music-related.
Forum rules
This section is for posts that are directly related to performance, performers, or equipment. Social issues are allowed, as long as they are directly related to those categories. If you see a post that you cannot respond to with respect and courtesy, we ask that you do not respond at all.
Post Reply
RenoDoc
Posts: 138
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2020 7:23 pm
Has thanked: 21 times
Been thanked: 31 times

What's the highest elevation you've played at?

Post by RenoDoc »

After doing the 26K race on Friday, spent the better part of Saturday playing my tuba for the trail runners doing the 50K at the Mammoth Trail Festival. We were at the peak cheering on the racers at 11,053 feet (3369 M). Definitely noticed I needed a few more breaths!
IMG_4075.jpg
IMG_4075.jpg (91.8 KiB) Viewed 9082 times
These users thanked the author RenoDoc for the post (total 7):
jtm (Wed Sep 27, 2023 12:02 pm) • hrender (Wed Sep 27, 2023 12:13 pm) • dp (Wed Sep 27, 2023 5:40 pm) • bloke (Thu Sep 28, 2023 8:10 am) • WC8KCY (Thu Sep 28, 2023 2:40 pm) and 2 more users


Andy Pasternak
Hirsbrunner HB7
Conn Naked Lady 14K
1918 York and Sons 33
User avatar
arpthark
Posts: 3635
Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2020 4:25 pm
Location: Southeastern Connecticut
Has thanked: 860 times
Been thanked: 1007 times
Contact:

Re: What's the highest elevation you've played at?

Post by arpthark »

Is that the world record for height for a York 33?
These users thanked the author arpthark for the post:
RenoDoc (Wed Sep 27, 2023 12:09 pm)
York-aholic
Posts: 1367
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 10:39 pm
Location: SoCal
Has thanked: 1449 times
Been thanked: 434 times

Re: What's the highest elevation you've played at?

Post by York-aholic »

arpthark wrote: Wed Sep 27, 2023 12:03 pm Is that the world record for height for a York 33?
Yes, it's in the book.
These users thanked the author York-aholic for the post:
RenoDoc (Wed Sep 27, 2023 1:17 pm)
Some old Yorks, Martins, and perhaps a King rotary valved CC
Tubeast
Posts: 179
Joined: Wed Jun 15, 2022 3:05 pm
Has thanked: 10 times
Been thanked: 45 times

Re: What's the highest elevation you've played at?

Post by Tubeast »

Many years ago, I carried my Melton 46 as far as they´ll let you go up the Ulmer Münster (768 stair steps) to play chorales from the tower at 142 m above the ground.
Will that count?
These users thanked the author Tubeast for the post (total 2):
RenoDoc (Thu Sep 28, 2023 2:57 pm) • Estubist (Sat Oct 14, 2023 12:48 am)
User avatar
bloke
Mid South Music
Posts: 18685
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:55 am
Location: western Tennessee - near Memphis
Has thanked: 3679 times
Been thanked: 3948 times

Re: What's the highest elevation you've played at?

Post by bloke »

I did one or two jazz festivals in Denver - probably 40 years ago. Matt goes out to Aspen every summer. I would predict that both of those are going to be easy to beat, particularly if remuneration is not a requirement.

How about the lowest elevation? I've also did a string of jazz festivals one summer in Holland.
These users thanked the author bloke for the post:
RenoDoc (Thu Sep 28, 2023 2:57 pm)
User avatar
jtm
Posts: 1096
Joined: Sat Aug 15, 2020 2:51 pm
Location: Austin, Texas
Has thanked: 682 times
Been thanked: 206 times

Re: What's the highest elevation you've played at?

Post by jtm »

Tubeast wrote: Thu Sep 28, 2023 1:24 am Many years ago, I carried my Melton 46 as far as they´ll let you go up the Ulmer Münster (768 stair steps) to play chorales from the tower at 142 m above the ground.
Will that count?
This is much more impressive than riding the elevator to the top of the University of Texas clock tower (total elevation: maybe 700 feet above sea level) to play Christmas songs.
These users thanked the author jtm for the post:
RenoDoc (Thu Sep 28, 2023 2:57 pm)
John Morris
This practicing trick actually seems to be working!
playing some old German rotary tubas for free
User avatar
arpthark
Posts: 3635
Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2020 4:25 pm
Location: Southeastern Connecticut
Has thanked: 860 times
Been thanked: 1007 times
Contact:

Re: What's the highest elevation you've played at?

Post by arpthark »

I could drive up to Mt. Washington in New Hampshire, but that is still only about 6288' (1916.6 meters).
These users thanked the author arpthark for the post:
RenoDoc (Thu Sep 28, 2023 2:57 pm)
User avatar
Teubonium
Posts: 20
Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2020 11:05 am
Location: Colorado
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 10 times

Re: What's the highest elevation you've played at?

Post by Teubonium »

I've performed at the Tabor Opera House in Leadville, Colorado, 10,158 feet with the Denver Concert Band several times on both my Kanstul 33
and my Besson 967.
These users thanked the author Teubonium for the post (total 3):
jtm (Thu Sep 28, 2023 12:41 pm) • RenoDoc (Thu Sep 28, 2023 2:57 pm) • dp (Fri Sep 29, 2023 5:17 pm)
User avatar
Mary Ann
Posts: 2929
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:24 am
Has thanked: 490 times
Been thanked: 576 times

Re: What's the highest elevation you've played at?

Post by Mary Ann »

Every July 4th (we missed a couple recently) there is a silly little parade in the town of Summerhaven which is at 8000' on Mt. Lemmon, 45 minutes straight up from my house. A portion of the Tucson Concert Band goes up there and plays marches before, SSB, and sometimes S&S after. I haven't noticed anything, but I do better in general at altitude than I do lower down. Playing off beats on the horn for 40 minutes is not going to tell you anything about your air supply, anyway, just your sanity.
dp
Posts: 259
Joined: Fri Aug 14, 2020 7:28 am
Has thanked: 62 times
Been thanked: 128 times

Re: What's the highest elevation you've played at?

Post by dp »

The Rollinsville (Colorado) Stage Stop is a grand old 155 year old venue above Denver, elevation is 8671'

Image

it is a lot of fun to play there since they quit throwing bottles at the stage a few years ago
pfft (yes, that's for you)
Ace
Posts: 314
Joined: Sat Aug 15, 2020 6:40 pm
Has thanked: 262 times
Been thanked: 67 times

Re: What's the highest elevation you've played at?

Post by Ace »

Not mentioning names, but I've heard with good authority that some tuba players often play while high.
Ace
User avatar
bort2.0
Posts: 5241
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:13 am
Location: Minneapolis
Has thanked: 336 times
Been thanked: 995 times

Re: What's the highest elevation you've played at?

Post by bort2.0 »

Didn't Wayne post some photo of him with a little Yamaha way up high somewhere? Pikes Peak? @Schlepporello...?
User avatar
Schlepporello
Posts: 529
Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2020 11:12 pm
Location: Amarillo, Texas
Has thanked: 11 times
Been thanked: 14 times

Re: What's the highest elevation you've played at?

Post by Schlepporello »

bort2.0 wrote: Fri Sep 29, 2023 6:49 pm Didn't Wayne post some photo of him with a little Yamaha way up high somewhere? Pikes Peak? @Schlepporello...?
At least I'm famous for something. Yes, I played the Yamaha YBB-103 that I once owned at the summit of Pikes Peak (elev. 14,400 ft?).
TubaForum.net Friendly Neighborhood Moderator
There are three things that I can never remember.
1)...................?
OK, make that four.
York-aholic
Posts: 1367
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 10:39 pm
Location: SoCal
Has thanked: 1449 times
Been thanked: 434 times

Re: What's the highest elevation you've played at?

Post by York-aholic »

arpthark wrote: Thu Sep 28, 2023 8:39 am I could drive up to Mt. Washington in New Hampshire, but that is still only about 6288' (1916.6 meters).
Ha! My front porch is 6200’

:laugh:
Some old Yorks, Martins, and perhaps a King rotary valved CC
tubaing
Posts: 157
Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2020 4:15 pm
Location: Dunkirk, MD
Has thanked: 31 times
Been thanked: 41 times

Re: What's the highest elevation you've played at?

Post by tubaing »

Just reminds me of the time an astronaut snuck his saxophone on the International Space Station
https://youtu.be/xVzmHlBG6BI?si=Isy_gX2lTOfUrhKy
User avatar
erdickman
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2020 11:36 am
Location: Northern California
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 4 times

Re: What's the highest elevation you've played at?

Post by erdickman »

What a great photo!!
Russman
  • Rudolf Meinl 50 C tuba gold brass
  • Rudolf Meinl 4345 rotary C tuba
  • B&S GR51 Bb tuba
  • Miraphone 283 Norwegian Star Eb tuba
Tuba- RenoPhil
Instructor- UNR Tuba Studio
User avatar
Doc
Posts: 2467
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:48 am
Location: Downtown Browntown
Has thanked: 844 times
Been thanked: 754 times
Contact:

Re: What's the highest elevation you've played at?

Post by Doc »

I stood up and played at a Whit Friday style presentation at the British American Foundation Gala in Houston. I normally don’t like being that elevated. Sitting is preferable. 😎

Ok, seriously…

I’ve played in Alpine, TX, about 4500’ elev. At lesser and similar elevations around southern Germany.
Welcome to Browntown!
Home of the Brown Note!
Bob Kolada
Posts: 234
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 5:50 pm
Location: Indiana
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 32 times

Re: What's the highest elevation you've played at?

Post by Bob Kolada »

I played strolling jazz at the Alaska State Fair about a decade ago, no idea on the altitude though. Miraphone 1281 F tuba with a rifle strap I bought at the outdoor shop across the street from the hotel. I actually played that same setup on TV once, I had almost every tune memorized so didn't bring a stand with me. It was quite the contrast with 6'10" Bob playing an F tuba next to 5'10" Mark with a PT6. 🤣
BopEuph
Posts: 624
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:09 am
Has thanked: 168 times
Been thanked: 93 times

Re: What's the highest elevation you've played at?

Post by BopEuph »

On the top of Roan Mountain...like 6k feet? I parked towards the base of the mountain, at the ranger station and amenities, then hiked up, which was a few miles each way. Imagine the frustration when I found out there was a parking area MUCH closer to the summit.

It was unseasonably warm in the Appalachians last year, like mid-80s. Walking through the forest was thick and humid, and not what I expected when visiting from Florida. As soon as I hit the summit it was an amazing low 60s and horribly overcast (it was sprinkling the entire hike), then the clouds opened up the second I walked onto the overlook.

Found some college kids who took a few videos of me playing. I learned while doing this how much of that "echo" is done in post on most of these videos, because the sound ways WAY drier than I thought it'd be.

These users thanked the author BopEuph for the post (total 2):
jtm (Thu Oct 05, 2023 10:13 pm) • RenoDoc (Wed Nov 08, 2023 7:36 pm)
Nick
(This horn list more to remind me what I have than to brag)
1984 Conn 12J
1990s Kanstul 900-4B BBb
1924 Holton 122 Sousa
1972 Holton B300 Euph
If you see a Willson 2900, serial W2177, it's been missing for a long time. Help me bring it home.
Post Reply