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The mention above of low Eb showing up in literature as well as low D and C makes me wonder if the impetus of the range “creep” in wind band music isn’t just the inclusion of MIDI into composition but the ever-present “CC tuba for college” mentality as well wherein composers aren’t getting pushback from the Guinea pig ensembles they are using when cobbling these pieces together.

I played a Derek Bourgeois piece (Serenade) in high school honor band that had Ds five ledger lines below the staff in it.

I asked my not-a-tuba-player band director how to finger that pitch. He suggested 124 on a BBb tuba, which is what I did. Whoops.

2nd tenor wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 6:43 am
Interesting too that both groups supply the instruments, I’d thought that - outside of some schools - only UK Brass Bands did that. I believe that BramJ is based in North West Continental Europe.

I live in The Netherlands, it's normal around here.
Also music lessons are arranged by bands, either by hiring a teacher directly or via a music school. School band programs are not a thing here

arpthark wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 9:38 am I played a Derek Bourgeois piece (Serenade) in high school honor band that had Ds five ledger lines below the staff in it.

I asked my not-a-tuba-player band director how to finger that pitch. He suggested 124 on a BBb tuba, which is what I did. Whoops.

Yeah, I had no idea either.

Thankfully, I got some lessons in during my last year or so of high school and got some guidance there. The advent of the World Wide Web was around the corner and I hadn’t seen a fingering chart that was useful.

Had to figure this out on bass trombone as well…

I regularly see Eb, D and pedal Bb. I also occasionally see Db, C, B and once I had a pedal A.