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The Tuba did not always look like this:
The evolution of this majestic instrument began in the year 1590 with a very strange looking horn called the
Serpent
The Serpent was made of wood and covered with leather.
It was difficult to carry and awkward to play.
To strive for a good, characteristic tone on the Serpent would be like
striving for galactic domination with only a droid and an x-wing at your side!
It was not until 1817 that France's own Jean Hilare Aste introduced the world
to a large version of the keyed bugle called the
OPHICLEIDE
The Ophicleide was significantly easier to play than the Serpent,
but composers must have known there was something better coming soon.
Unfortunately for the Ophicleide and Ophicleide enthusiasts everywhere,
German inventors came up with the piston valve system in 1815.
By 1835, the first contrabass TUBA was patented by Wilhelm Wieprecht and Johann Moritz.
BASSTUBA or CONTRABASS TUBA
The Wieprecht-Moritz tubas were keyed in F and C and were very well liked except
for the Ophicleide-like shape and difficulty in the lower register.
Belgian inventor of the saxophone, Adolphe Sax, took the design of the tuba to a whole new level
when he unveiled his "Saxhorn" in 1844.
SAXHORN
The Saxhorn had three valves and was pitched in Bb and Eb.
Since the Saxhorn, the tuba has been redesigned many times and called many different names.
Here are a few of the more well known models:
HELICON
Russia, 1845
Wagner Tuba
Germany, 1874
SOUSAPHONE
United States, 1893 Modern Day
TUBA
This photo represents the common concert band tuba as we know it today.
Tubas are made all over the world, can have 3, 4, 5, or 6 valves,
and they can have piston systems or rotary valves.
Now that you are more familiar with the history of the dark side,
it is time that you learn about all of the different
kinds of tubas that are in use today.....
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