The tuba family
By: by Clifford Bevan.
Edition: 2nd edition, revised, enlarged and updated
Publisher: Piccolo
Published: 2000
Place of publication: Winchester
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 639
Copyright date: 1978, 2000
Subjects: Tuba -- History.
First sentence: The tuba and its relatives make up a family called by organologists ‘the valved bugle-horns’.
Description: The first edition of "The Tuba Family" was published by Faber & Faber (Scribner in the USA) in 1978 and made an instant impression. BBC Radio 4’s Today programme described it as ‘the most unexpected publishing event of the year’. Following continuing research and increasing awareness of historic performing practice, the second edition, published in 2000, is a significant improvement on the first, with 640 pages (compared with 303), 16 chapters, a 33-page index, 16 tables, 100 music examples, 100 illustrations, 8 appendices and 23-page bibliography. This family of instruments (called by organologists the ‘valved bugle-horns’) is immense: there are over 700 names in the glossary. The instruments date back in time to one of the earliest signalling horns, the bugle (horn of the bugle or young ox), became more versatile with the addition of finger-holes in the 11th century, provided a deeper range of notes through the serpent at the end of the 16th century, and reached their highest state of perfection following the invention of the valve about 1813. The family provides virtually the entire instrumentation of the British brass band (except for the cornets and trombones), is found in wind bands of all sorts and, particularly in the form of the bass and contrabass tubas, in symphonic and operatic orchestras.
— From the publisher.
Notes: Previous ed.: Faber & Faber 1978.

Includes bibliographical references and index.