Whether "French" tuba or "any" tuba, is our collective regard for Debussy as low as his was for us?

[bloke]

[bort2.0]

I call that piece "La Merde"

That'll show him!

[Snake Charmer]

At least this has 3.4 times more notes to play than Dvorak 9 and widespread dynamics! But still not my favourite piece on any tuba (but relaxing to play on the french c!)

[Finetales]

The trombones don't have a WHOLE lot more to do than that. I played it in undergrad and it was pretty much just an "I get to listen to all these pretty flute solos" experience, not so much a playing one.

There is also a La Mer by a less-known composer named Paul Gilson. That one gives the low brass MUCH more to do, and is still a great piece.

[UncleBeer]

IMHO, the French tuba gets a fascinating tone in that range, if played correctly. Debussy knew what he was doing.

[bloke]

...if I had one of those, if I invested the weeks and months to be able to figure out all of its quirks, and if I didn't fall asleep during that piece to play those handful of low notes where they belong.

[bisontuba]

Watch for tomorrow's Simonetti Museum post....

[bloke]

2-3 on the huge Meinl-Weston euphonium offers a pretty teethy low F sharp, and I could also play it with the Elliott contrabass trombone mouthpiece that I have - which looks more like a French tuba mouthpiece (and will play euphoniums without the pitch sagging). In fact, it looks a lot like a French tuba mouthpiece. Another advantage is that the M-W euphonium is not too quirky, and I have already figured out its few quirks...oh yeah: and I already own it, and (always convenient) already know which buttons to mash.
.

[UncleBeer]

if I invested the weeks and months to be able to figure out all of its quirks...

Not all that quirky. The first 5 valves are exactly the same as any CC tuba, just an octave up. And the 6th valve is an easy learning curve.

[bloke]

The button mashing isn't the biggest issue.

[tclements]

I've always played this on CC. I might try BBb these days.

[bloke]

I can see where my euphonium-(just a bit over-)sized instrument would add color to the low F sharps, as well as making them easier to hold out for the full length without busting ribs due to taking in so much air.

Optics-wise, the F tuba (with all those paddles mashed down) would accomplish the same - and probably with more loudless.