Tuba, nominal pitch: C / B♭

Couesnon

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Alternative Title

Basse.

Instrument

Tuba/Tubas/Wind/Musical Instrument ; Tuba

Instrument Family

Wind

Maker

Couesnon

Place Made

Paris ; Europe ; France ; Western Europe

Date Made

Post 1882, probably early 20th century

Description

6 valves. Technical description: Silver-plated brass. Extension piece for main tuning-slide to put instrument in B♭; extension piece for 3rd valve tuning-slide to give `doigté ministériel' tuning. L1: 4th valve: perfect 4th. L2: 5th valve: semitone. L3: 6th valve: perfect 5th. R1: 1st valve: two semitones. R2: 2nd valve: semitone. R3: 3rd valve: minor 3rd, with extension piece for major 3rd. Valve type: 6 Périnet valves in two groups of three. Overall size: 612; bell 266. Sounding length: minimum in C 2435; in Bb 2735. Bore: mouthpipe at c 35mm from mouthpiece receiver (minimum bore) 10.7; m.t.s. at c 258mm from mouthpiece receiver, tuning slide bore 14.55; centre of valve cluster at c 503mm from mouthpiece receiver, v.t.s. bore (1,2,) 15.55, bore (3) 16.55; centre of valve cluster at c 748mm from mouthpiece receiver, v.t.s. bore (4,5,6) 16.55; 1218mm from bell end, c 26.5; c 982mm from bell end, 37.5; 33mm from bell end, 169. B = 0.39 (in C); B = 0.42 (in Bb). Bell cutoff = 600 Hz. Dia of mouthpiece receiver: m.r.t. 12.6 - 11.6. Performance characteristics: Good instrument for the high register; not stuffy in the low register. 6 valves give opportunity to play whole compass in tune. Good compass down to pedals, even with small mouthpiece. However pedal notes not so good when in B♭. Bright, direct, ophicleide-like sound. Usable pitch: A₄ = c 440 Hz. Inscribed on bell "MONOPOLE / COUESNON / PARIS / 23537 / MONOPOLE / CONSERVATOIRES / MADE IN FRANCE"; on valve casings "1", "MONOPOLE / CONSERVATOIRE / PARIS / 2", "3", "4", "5", "6"; on reverse side of 2nd valve "K", and on reverse side of 5th valve "C". General usage of type: This tuba, built in the high (for tubas) key of 8 ft C, but equipped with six valves to make the register playable, was the standard orchestral instrument in France until quite recently.

Other Information

General usage of type: This tuba, built in the high (for tubas) key of 8 ft C, but equipped with six valves to make the register playable, was the standard orchestral instrument in France until quite recently.

Notes

R. Parks, 1.12.90, 8.1.94; C. Bevan 1.12.90; A. Myers, bore 20.9.97, 14.8.10.

Measurements

612; bell 266.

Provenance

ex- Bruno Kampmann collection. ; on loan to the Collection.

Collection

MIMEd

Accession Number

2925