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| The Harvard Tuba, before and after its restoration in 2019 |
The tuba's earliest history at the 1889 Exposition Universelle in Paris
The tuba's history at Carl Fischer in NYC and Boston (1889-1948)
The tuba's history in connection with Gilmore's Band (1891 or 1892)
My first time to see and play this historic instrument (February 18, 2019)
Photos of the restoration process at Dillon Music, NJ (Feb-June, 2019)
Short feature on the tuba in The Harvard Gazette (March 1, 2019)
Photos of the fully-restored tuba at Dillon Music (June, 2019)
Interview talking about the restored tuba, starting at 9:30 (July 23, 2019)
The new home for the restored tuba in the Harvard Band room
My first article on the tuba in British Bandsman (October 10, 2019)
The first performance on the newly restored tuba (October 11, 2019)
My second article on the tuba in British Bandsman (October 17, 2019)
My third article on the tuba in British Bandsman (October 24, 2019)
Article on its history reprinted in ITEA Journal (November 28, 2019)
Article on its restoration reprinted in ITEA Journal (March 17, 2020)
The new home for the restored tuba in the Harvard Band room
My first article on the tuba in British Bandsman (October 10, 2019)
The first performance on the newly restored tuba (October 11, 2019)
My second article on the tuba in British Bandsman (October 17, 2019)
My third article on the tuba in British Bandsman (October 24, 2019)
Article on its history reprinted in ITEA Journal (November 28, 2019)
Article on its restoration reprinted in ITEA Journal (March 17, 2020)
The YouTube version of my ITEA Journal article (July 11, 2022)
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| The earliest known image (1891 or 92) and one following its recent restoration (2019) |
According to an old article and photo in the T.U.B.A. Newsletter, there were originally two of the Harvard tubas, but only one survives. It took three people to play: one to blow, one to work the valves, and one to hold it up. It would be wheeled out onto the football field during halftime (making the third person unneeded), and Sam Pilafian and an assistant would play it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this, although I'm pretty sure it is incorrect. While Bohland & Fuchs built two identical subcontrabass tubas in 1912 (only one remains today, and it is known as "Big Carl," while the other was destroyed in 1942), Besson only ever made the one giant tuba, what is currently known as The Harvard Tuba. And Sam did play it a couple of times, but never at a football game. And I have played it myself, and there is no problem reaching the valves - but it does help to have someone hold it for you while you play it! Thanks again for chiming in!
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