Posted by Leland on July 05, 2000 at 10:51:50:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Key air demands posted by Klaus on July 05, 2000 at 05:37:44:
Hmm...
Those "back side" keys, if I'm reading all this correctly, would actually introduce a less clear and brassier sound. Try playing a low Bb on a BBb tuba (or a corresponding low C on a CC, etc..) with the open fingering, then again using a 1-2-4 fingering. Although the tuning on 1-2-4 may be a touch off, it's still essentially the same note, but with a lot of relatively straight tubing added in. It's also a lot easier to add tons of brassy edge.
Composers will often write in keys that are friendly to the "front side" of the instruments in mind because they'll sound more clear and less brassy -- or, by the same idea, some sections of a work would be written in a "back side" key in order to put greater emphasis on a segment that's highlighted by a "front side" key... in other words, using the relative stuffiness of the back side to make the front side sound even more open.