Tchaikosky

On Monday we had the first rehearsal for the London Charity Orchestras Autumn concert. We only had time to play through the Symphony, Tchaik 5. I am playing Bass Trombone (for some reason LCO seem to have loads of tuba players on thoer books but just me on Bass Bone, over the years I have been playing I can't get on tuba even when two are needed) but on this occason no complants at all. This was the piece that first inspired me to take up the trombone.

I must have been about 15 or 16 on a Croydon Youth Philharmonic Orchestra holiday course, at the time I was CYPO's principle tuba but beginning to be pressed hard by Nick Hacket a very talented musician and gifted tuba player. We had, I think 4 of us on tube including Nick and another very competent player, and something like 9 trombones. The trouble was all the trombones where tenors, with the best players on first, then second and only some basic near beginners on third. This symphony needs a proper confident bass trombone, I observed this to our tutor during a break on the first day, he promptly went out to his car, brought in a bass trombone and gave it to me, five days later I played it in the end of course concert. By the end of the next term I was CYPO's Bass Trombone, Nick was in his proper place as the principle tuba and the rest as they say is history.

The orchestral bass trombone is a wonderful sound, and there are many, many well written parts for the specialist to enjoy, but my first love is still the tuba!