Tuba Tuesday: Marzan BBb Tuba

[bisontuba]

Happy Tuba Tuesday.

This Tuba Tuesday we feature an instrument designed br Dr. Fred Marzan (1920-2003). Dr. Marzan was a professional tuba player, University professor and instrument designer. In 1968, he designed six different models of tubas. These included rotary valve contrabass tubas in BBb and CC - made by the German maker Bohm and Meinl - which had their rotary valves angled to the right instead of normally positioned parallel to the bell. These instruments also had their main tuning slides positioned above the valves which allowed the player to manipulate it with the left hand while playing. We have two of these instruments in our collection, a CC and BBb. Today we feature the BBb.



https://simonettitubacollection.com/ins ... -4-rotary/

[GC]

A few years back, our local Brass Band had a Jax State student/grad who had a silver piston Marzan CC in immaculate condition. I was surprised by how big the horn was; I had always misjudged the size from pictures. The sound he got out of it was impressive, clear and resonant. It played remarkably well in tune with little effort. He later moved out west, and I really miss his personality, playing ability, and his horn.

[bort2.0]

Happy Tuba Tuesday.

This Tuba Tuesday we feature an instrument designed br Dr. Fred Marzan (1920-2003). Dr. Marzan was a professional tuba player, University professor and instrument designer. In 1968, he designed six different models of tubas. These included rotary valve contrabass tubas in BBb and CC - made by the German maker Bohm and Meinl - which had their rotary valves angled to the right instead of normally positioned parallel to the bell. These instruments also had their main tuning slides positioned above the valves which allowed the player to manipulate it with the left hand while playing. We have two of these instruments in our collection, a CC and BBb. Today we feature the BBb.



https://simonettitubacollection.com/ins ... -4-rotary/

We...?

[bisontuba]

We is the Museum...

[bort2.0]

We is the Museum...

I know that. But reading this, its like, "We = Mark and who else?" Or "Is Mark part of the museum?" or "If these are Vince's words, why doesn't he just post it here? Or are these his words and not being attributed to him?"

Marzan tubas are interesting, some are very good. Fred was an interesting person. A heavy personality from what I've heard...

[LeMark]

"we" are posting on behalf of Vince, but I agree it could probably be phrased better so it's spoken in 3rd person

[bisontuba]

I will not use 'we'....but if anyone wants to take over and post weekly, I will be very happy to stop doing this...back to Facebook...

[matt g]

Which “we”?

In the Instagram post, I did take an effort to clarify on the second “we” in that I switched to third person and put “Tuba Museum” in its place. The first “we” is appropriate, imo. Not a huge deal though.

This is an all volunteer effort to try an help spread the word. I appreciate Mark Jones pulling interesting items from the museum and posting them.

[bort2.0]

I sure didn't mean to sound like a jerk about it. Big thanks to Mark. Some pretty wild stuff in that collection, and I sure hadn't seen it before!

[humBell]

I am happy to focus in the tuba rather than the grammer.

Weeeee!

[bloke]

I am happy to focus in the tuba rather than the grammer.

Weeeee!

The 5-valve version of the ~C~ is so rare as to ~BE~ Near~LY~ an anoma~LY~...ain't that right, ~WE~ ?

bloke "Not only Grammer, but Papper, too - ~HE~ would be proud of of ~ME~."

https://i.makeagif.com/media/2-26-2018/0QT0wz.mp4

[humBell]

I did not know there was a 5 valve version.

I must ~c~ it some time...

It does sound anomalo~us.

I don't suppose there is enough pull in the MTS to make the 5th valve superfluo~us? But that is kinda the danger of an accessible MTS: every brass instrument becomes a trombone if you depend on it too much.

[windshieldbug]

I don't suppose there is enough pull in the MTS to make the 5th valve superfluo~us? But that is kinda the danger of an accessible MTS: every brass instrument becomes a trombone if you depend on it too much.

That was Dr. Marzan's genius: I never wanted for a 5th valve on my 4 valve slant-rotor, and learning to use your ears instead of a reflex made Pure Intonation much easier to master!

[dp]

The 5-valve version of the ~C~ is so rare ...

Rabbi Doug had one, I wonder where he's at these days....

[bort2.0]

I almost bought a 5-valve CC at some point 5 or 10 years ago. Didn't do it, because I was concerned about the top-heaviness of it.

It appears that Doug is still a Rabbi in NJ, and also teaches at a college in Vermont. Also, he was a childhood friend of Howard Stern? That must've been something...

[MikeMason]

I’ve always lusted after the solo c, though never played one. Seems perfect for a quintet c. Can’t quite justify. Would overlap with my f. Of course, exceedingly rare too.

[bisontuba]

I think Steve Shoop is selling a lacquer 4v solo version...