Posted by AW on February 23, 2003 at 00:45:51:
In Reply to: Re: Re: 8va heros posted by Fred Young on February 22, 2003 at 23:14:50:
I commented on pipe organs also above, but this place seems right for the following:
Fred Young has commented before about the frequently out of tune overtones from playing the first partial on a tuba. There is a similar phenomenon in organ pipes. Unlike cylindrical pipes, the conical resonators used on trumpet and tuba types of organ pipes do not control the overtones as well. Organ builders, in order to make loud pipes of these types sound better, will make them double length, compared to what is strictly needed for basic resonance. Essentially, these pipes are resonating at their second partial, not their first. The organ builder's terms for these stops adds the word "harmonic," as in Harmonic Trumpet, Harmonic Tuba, etc. For higher notes, there's nothing like a French-style Trompette Harmonique to have a firey assertiveness without any blare or squawk. And, for mid range notes, there is the English-style Harmonic Tuba Mirabilis with its majestic and assertive smoothness, pealing above full organ in a big cathedral.
These are examples that I believe corroborate Fred Young's statements about pedal tones in brass instruments. Anyone seeking further demonstrations should listen to any trumpet being played in its pedal range.
Allen Walker