One of the quartet of Wagner Tubas (all now in this Collection) brought to Britain by Sir Thomas Beecham for the London Philharmonic Orchestra c 1934.

• Pictures
• Talk by the player
• The sound of the Wagner tuba
• History
• Technical details
• References

The mouthpiece in these recordings is the performer's own, Halstead-Chidell model, Paxman, London.

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Pictures

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Talk by the player

• about playing the Wagner tuba

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The sound of the Wagner tuba

• Richard Wagner (1813-1883), `Valhalla' motif from Das Rheingold, 1854/1869

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History

• Maker: Alexander.
• Place: Mainz.
• Date of making: early 1930s.

Specific usage history: One of the set of four purchased by the London Philharmonic Orchestra c 1934.

Current ownership: Gift of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, 1985.

EUCHMI Acquisition number: (2515)

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Technical details

• English name: Wagner Tuba.
• Nominal pitch: Bb.
• Overall size: 795; bell diameter 236.
• Sounding length: segment lengths: from distal end of ferrule after tuning-slide 1374; bell segment 488.
• Bore: v.t.s. 12.7, m.t.s. 12.7 - 13.8; 21.5mm from bell end, 166.
• Diameter of mouthpiece receiver: m.r.t. 8.3 at end; compare with 8.1 for the two instruments in F, (2516) and (2855).

Technical description: Brass (lacquered) with silver ferrules etc; m.t.s. is between valves and bell. Bell segment external diameter at one bell diameter 74.

Valve type: 4 rotary valves.

Inscriptions: Inscribed on bell "GEBR. / ALEXANDER / MAINZ" within decorative surround and "LPO / 4".

Usable pitch: Plays at A₄ = 440 Hz with tuning-slide drawn 40mm.

Performance characteristics: Speaks easily throughout, especially with tuning-slide drawn.

Associated with Wagner tubas (2516), (2854) and (2855).

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References to this instrument in publications

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All material on this website is copyright.
© Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, 1999-2003, 2008.

This page updated: 29.10.08