Thursday, July 24, 2014

A Visionary Award for the Most Visionary



The recent ITEC (International Tuba and Euphonium Congress) was an amazing event, it’s impressive to recall the great playing, presentations, ensembles, friendships and just the fact that there were 850 participants from all over the world; that it was an unforgettable event is an understatement. There is, however, one event that may very well be remembered as the most significant in that one-week of continuous tuba/euphonium presentations.


At the official ITEC dinner, Composer/tubist Jim Self announced the formation of the Jim and Jamie Self Creative award. This is a monumental new item in the Tuba/Euphonium community; the following is the introduction of this award in Jim Self’s words: For several years I would call up one of my college professor friends and ask if they had a particularly talented and creative student. If so I would award a $500 scholarship to that student. But it was random and tedious--(plus every college that got a scholarship still hits me up for money--probably forever--what a drag!). I wanted to formalize it, internationalize it and make it have longevity beyond my years. So we set up a $25,000 endowment fund through ITEA to administer it--in perpetuity. The endowed principal is never to be used for the award and others can contribute to it--so hopefully it will grow.”


This award is a huge step in perpetuation of the frequently stated fact that there has never been anything in music history like the growth of the tuba through the last 100 years. More importantly, it’s an insurance policy that we will never become complacent in the wake of our amazing evolution.


Jim also points out “It’s difficult to define creativity”. This is where this award becomes most interesting. The purpose is to encourage creative projects in the tuba/euphonium world and to think "outside of the box". Thinking outside of the box has been our specialty and the energy source through our amazing growth period.


Choosing a winner for this award will be a rewarding and challenging job; ‘outside of the box’ opens unlimited possibilities. The first award of $1500 was given to Norwegian tubist, Kristoffer Lo for his Ryvingen Lighthouse Recording Project--where he is taking modern computer and electronic effects on the tuba to new places. This does not mean that it will be an award for electronic music; it only means something in a new direction, which opens a huge vista of possibilities.


Thank you Jim for creating this award. Just the fact that such a thought expander exists will expand the vision of the contestants, the ITEA (International Tuba Euphonium Association) judges who will choose a winner and the entire international community. We all will benefit from this new visionary award.



Roger Bobo, July 24, 2015, Carlsbad, California

Saturday, July 19, 2014

The 15th Harmonic: it's Useful


The tuba evolution is still actively progressing in many ways including technique and, of course, part of that amazingly expanding technique is the extension of the high register. I can point out with great clarity that what was considered high register 25 years ago has changed today. Further, the same situation exists between 25 and 50 (in my case 60) years ago. When we view the great tubists of today it is not unusual to see players successfully performing up to and beyond the C an octave higher than middle C on the piano.

In the process of developing a usable and functional high register our criteria, our success is best evaluated not only just by just getting the note but also by getting the note with clarity and good intonation. Part of that development is discovering the best fingering for that clarity and intonation, in fact, it can prove to be strategic.

For example, (all examples are calculate for an instrument in C, but, of course, it should be calculated for instruments in F, Eb, C or Bb.) Most of us have learned that playing a high D or Db usually sounds better if we play the 9th harmonic rather that the 10th harmonic, which has the same flatness tendency as octave lower 5th harmonic, that would mean  the high Db with the 2nd valve, and the high D open.


The same situation exists in the much higher register when we substitute the 2nd valve 16th harmonic fingering for a double high B, with the 15th harmonic open fingering. This fingering seems strange to many players who haven’t tried it, some students have actually looked at me in disbelief and said “Not on my tuba”.

Here is a small list of 15th harmonic fingerings all calculated for C tuba.

There is another advantage to these fingerings; there is a bigger margin of safety using the 9th harmonic in place of the 10th or the 15th in place of the 16th. Quite simply, that slightly larger margin between the harmonics above and below can create greater security as well as greater clarity and better intonation.

When I was a young man and just starting my career a wonderful piece by composer William Kraft called ENCOUNTERS #2 was written for me. It was said I was the only person who could play it; that lasted a very short time. Today that piece, while still difficult, is played frequently on college and university recitals and I have seen it occasionally performed by younger, high school age players. (Please read September 2009 [written in 2004] blog Roger Bannister and the Four Minute Mile).

The tuba is still experiencing an active evolution, which is unique in music history, never before has an instrument emerged and grown in status so rapidly. Viewing that rapid growth retrospectively lets us to more easily predict the changes that may come. The need for our expanding high register has already arrived; the 15th harmonic may prove useful.


July 18, 2014, Carlsbad, California


Tuesday, July 08, 2014

Mr. Rupp

Recently I was in Osaka, Japan doing many things; I was giving private lessons at various venues throughout the west of Japan, Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe, home of the famous Kobe steak. Giving masterclasses, enjoying superb Osakan cuisine and, most memorably, I had two wonderful days of conducting the Toba High School and Fushimi Jr. High School Bands. This was fulfilling work and, of course, the two bands were amazing. But there was more to this happy experience; seeing the students and their interaction with their teachers triggered memories of very happy years from my Jr. high and high school days when music became a major part of my life.

His name was Fred Rupp, he was the music teacher of a beginning instrumental class where I had first studied the tuba, Jr band, Sr, Band, Jr Orchestra and Sr, orchestra of Eagle Rock (a suburb of Los Angeles), Jr and Sr High School. He changed my life; he put the tuba in my hands in 1951.

Mr. Rupp could play all the instruments in the band and orchestra, yet, maybe cleverly, he never picked up the tuba to demonstrate. His verbal introduction seemed to be just the right words to get me started. I remember so clearly, “Roger, the tuba works just like a trumpet (I had played cornet since age 7) but two octaves lower, it takes more air than the trumpet but you’re a big guy so it shouldn’t be any problem for you.

“The tuba tone should be like a silk ribbon of sound, always beautiful and never blasty”.
In the next days and weeks the memorable quotes kept coming:
“Beauty is always more important than loudness”.
 “Breathing is part of the music”.
It’s a little strange really, because many of the things Mr. Rupp told us during band and orchestra rehearsals were beyond in wisdom what musicians in professional ensembles hear from conductors.
“Never stop the notes with your tongue, it causes an unnatural ending to a note”
Mr. Rupp pointed out to me at the age of thirteen, that the word “Tuba” meant very different things to different composers” And he would play records of those differences.
Here, are a few other quotes I’ve never forgotten:
“If you close your ear with one finger you can easily hear if your intonation is good”
“While listening to others, if you close both ears with your fingers you can very easily hear if the instruments are together.”

These simple quotes have stayed with me for over 60 years, I remembered them as a player and I still use them as a teacher.
Mr. Rupp was a visionary. During the annual spring music high school festivals when most of the bands and orchestras were playing simple pieces from list of recommended repertoire, Mr. Rupp had the Eagle Rock High School Orchestra play the first movement of the Brahms Symphony Number 2. What an experience! We were both commended and criticized for taking on such a grand project. I still remember what one of the judges said. “Bravo for attempting the Brahms but for the next festival please do something easier.” Mr. Rupp responded the next year by doing the first movement of the Franck D minor!! Mr. Rupp remains one of my lifetime heroes.

The effect a great and visionary teacher can have on the life of a student is enormous. Thank you Mr. Rupp for your wisdom and vision, I will never forget your influence. 

July 8, 2014, Firenze, Italia