The Band Room

    Im shure everyone would agree to this that the Tuba is the largest band insterment right ,but some may say the conterbass would be bigger but that is your choice.  So to all of you Tuba players and Tuba fan's come in a take your Tuba off I know they can be heavy.  Don't forget to enjoy yourself!!!

The one of the largest of the brass instruments, a huge, heavy, deep-toned beast...! There are a number of different types of tuba, the most popular today being the "E flat tuba" and the slightly larger "double B flat tuba". The double B flat tuba has approximately 550 centimetres of metal tubing around which the air blown through the mouthpiece must travel! All tubas have an enormous bell out of which the deeeeeep sound emerges!

Because it sounds so deep, the tuba has traditionally provided the bass notes in musical ensembles. It was developed in the 1830s in Germany and Austria, the term "tuba" originating from the "bass-tuba" invented by Willhelm Wieprecht in Berlin. It soon became a popular addition to military marching bands, from where its traditional association with "oompah" bands originated. It has also featured in many classical music works. British composer Vaughan Williams, for example, wrote his famous tuba concerto in 1955.

 Found at :  http://www.cambridgejazz.org/jazz_generator/windandhorns7.html