The Tuba and the Tuba Player: Rasma Raisters aka Gypsy Rose Lee
Hub Index
1. The Tuba;
2. The Tuba-player;
3. Rasma Raisters aka Gypsy Rose Lee;
4. Rasma's favourite music for romantic love, sensual love, raw sadness, anger, nostalgia plus one specific memory.
Listen to the vigorous sound of the Tuba
Listen to a Tuba Trio
Listen to the Sousaphones (Marching Tubas)
The Range of the Tuba
The Tuba
Having the largest and lowest-pitched of all brass instruments, the tuba provides the essential bass needed by orchestras. It is made of brass and sometimes electroplated with silver, gold or nickel. Sound is produced by vibrating (buzzing) the lips into a relatively large mouthpiece and by closing and opening the 3-6 piston or rotary valves.
The various pitches of tubas (Bb, Eb, F, C) depend on the length of the main tube, which could be from 12-18 feet long. Tubas come in a variety of sizes, wavering in popularity from country to country.
Today, in marching bands, the close relative of the heavy tuba – the sousaphone, designed by John Philip Sousa (The American March King) – is the most popular as it is design to wrap around the musician’s body, resting on their shoulders - therefore easier to carry. Although the bombardon is an ancestor of the modern tuba many people still use this name to describe the modern tuba, or rather its sound and rhythm.... bom-bar-don-bom.... playing the traditional bass role.
The tubas often save the orchestra when one or more of the instruments stumble and pull the entire orchestra down. Listening to the beat sustained by the tubas, and, of cause, focusing (again) on the conductor, bring all members back on track in a matter of seconds. Go figure what happens when the tubas go wrong! Therefore, tuba players have to be ‘perfect’. Always!
In a symphony orchestra tubas are frequently without music, as their deep bass sound is too harsh for the sensitive strings. The audience will see them leaving the stage to return again when they have to supply the bassline of another item on the program. In their place the more appeasing contrabass provides the essential bass.
Sheetmusic for the Tuba
The Tuba Player
Music for the tuba is not difficult to read, although solos could be quite a challenge. A good sense of rhythm is, however, an essential requirement. The tubaist (or tubist) is what one would call ‘the leader behind the curtains’. While they seldom if ever get the recognition they deserve, they keep the orchestra on the track provided by the composer of the music.
Because of its weight (25 to 30 pounds), tubas are considered by music nerds to be an instrument only to be played by strong men. Therefore strong females with a healthy self-esteem often see the tuba as the ideal opportunity to prove the equality of themselves and their sisters, and by doing so they obtain and enjoy the respect and admiration of all members of the orchestra.
The powerful tuba accommodates various personalities and allows large and small egos to find the balance respected by society. Responsible and good-natured musicians feel at home playing the tuba while practising their sense of humour at the same time.
The urban dictionary defines tuba players as the most amazing musicians in the band, always fun to be with, persevering and the most important individuals in a marching band.
Listen to Oom Pah Pah and imagine the (disastrous) absence of a tuba in an oompah band... (Tuba arrives at .50 minutes)
The tuba is also popular in Jazz bands. Please notice the unique love affair this musician has with his tuba. Typical tubaist!
Choosing the right instrument for your child
How to choose the right music instrument for your child
- A music instrument suits a specific personality – ...
Nine children out of ten could succeed in learning how to play a music instrument if they chose an instrument that suits their personality.
Rasma Raisters aka Gypsy Rose Lee
Looking for the musician in Rasma aka Gypsy-Rose-Lee I could clearly see a tuba player. Sticking to the beat, persistent like a leader behind the curtains, she publishes one after the other thought-provoking poem. As a dedicated Christian, a lover of nature, the world and animals, especially of cats, and most of all as a lover of 'happy things', Rasma inspires us to follow the tracks 'composed' by HubPages.
In one of her recent poems - Playing-My-Guitar - Rasma exposes her beautiful personality and deep perception of the human soul.
As part of her audition for musicianship in the Hubville Symphonic Wind Orchestra I have asked Rasma to submit a few songs she associates with specific emotions.
And here she is, presenting her choices ~
Romantic Love
Romantic Love
I believe there is nothing so romantic as saying sweet goodbyes to one love who may or may not have died and to go on to another love. The way Mary Hopkin sings 'Goodbye' is romantic and sad at the same time.
Sensual love
Sensual love:
Well....
real love
just makes it all
so very passionate
and I believe
this song
expresses that so well.
Raw Sadness:
Raw Sadness:
There is nothing
sadder
than final good-byes
and knowing
you will probably
never meet again.
Anger:
Anger:
This song can be interpreted in many ways even pain and sadness but I think it can also apply to the anger of a breakup.
Nostalgia (Longing):
Nostalgia (Longing):
This has long been a song which expresses the longing I have about having travelled so far and wanting to get back home to NYC as the song says - New York's home but it ain't mine no more...
One specific memory:
One specific memory:
This one goes back to my high school days and my very first love. It was our song. Now that is a very special memory.
Thank you Gypsy Rose Lee aka Rasma Raisters!
The fact that you are able to connect your emotions to specific songs is a quality in your favour and will certainly ensure your success as a musician in Hubville Symphonic Wind Orchestra.
To make your audition for Tuba player an unforgettable experience I would like you to play this amazing romantic piece - Tuba Concerto II. Romanza - written especially for the tuba by the British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams.
The tubaist in this video is Aaron Tindall, a giant in the world of music.
Vaughan Williams Tuba Concerto II
A special message to all tuba players from the Epigramman ~
© Martie Coetser
Copyright :: All Rights Reserved
Registered :: 2013-06-09 16:47:32
Title :: The Tuba and the Tuba Player: Rasma Raisters aka G
Category :: Article Hub
Fingerprint :: 9e550fccbb41aba1f17f593f635a9f041c01d1d98f675fdc0b9c95fb074231e3
MCN :: CX6XJ-F34JH-E6RNZ
Hubville Symphonic Wind Orchestra
- The Flute and the Flute-Player: Nellieanna Hay aka Nellieanna;
- The Clarinet and the Clarinet Player: Maria Jordan aka marcoujor;
- The-Saxophone-and-the-Saxophone-Player-Linda-Bilyeu-aka-Sunshine625
- The Bassoon and the Bassoon Player: B.j. Rakow aka drbj;
- The French Horn and the French Horn Player: Svetlana Ivanova aka kallini2010;
- The-Trumpet-and-the-Trumpet-Player-Bill-Holland-aka-billybuc;
- The Euphonium and the Euphonium Player: Mike Friedman aka mckbirdbks
- http://martiecoetser.hubpages.com/hub/The-Tuba-and-the-Tuba-Player-Rasma-Raisters-aka-Gypsy-Rose-Lee
This hub is dedicated to my dearest son, Steven, a professional tuba player since 1994...
Related
Comments
- AUTHOR
Gypsy ~ One of my favorites ~ http://youtu.be/SBmAPYkPeYU
Elvis just is the greatest Ruby. Can never have enough of him.
So glad to hear you enjoy my poetry Midget.
- AUTHOR
@ Always - I will never get enough of Elvis, but Neil Diamond is my most favourite :)
@ midget - Gypsy's poems are what I call 'fruit for thought'.... :)
Gypsy Rose writes beautiful poetry! Thanks for sharing, Martie.
OMG, I had to come back and listen to Elvis again. It gave me goose bumps.....Sigh...Hee..
- AUTHOR
Hi Audrey, thanks for coming around. Are you a musician? On what instrument(s)?
Such a great hub! And congrats to you for raising a professional musician--there are far too few of us around!
- AUTHOR
@ Hi my dear always exploring :} - You know my motto: Rather late than never. Always good to see you!
@ Gypsy - I love all your songs. Evergreens! Hugs :)
Thanks Ruby. Martie did a great job. Nice to hear that you love Willie and Elvis as much as I do and the band plays on.
Hello Martie, i'm late, but not too late to express my congratulations to Rasma, excellent choice...Of course Willie and Elvis are two of my favotite entertainers which adds sweet icing to this piece. You have a handsome son. Bravo..
- AUTHOR
Nellieanna, it is (again) midnight down here, and I am taking your beautiful comment with me to bed. To ponder, to dream about, to appreciate with all my heart. You are such a wonderful supporter, clearing all doubts with your comments...... and I am speaking on behalf of all your followers. Lots of hugs to you... :)
Martie - dear CD - You've handled it well!! Dealt with any negative that may visit, acknowledged & stayed open to it till it is handled then dismissing it and turning back to the joy. The good thing in that equation is in first acing it, rather than attempting to ignore it or pretend it away, which merely gives it more life within. The actual choice of looking it in the face, seeing it for what it is and then moving on past it is what makes positivity & optimistic reality become one's true style.
Stuff will surely rise up at any time thereafter, but the same pattern will take care of it without causing injury to self or others. I'm overjoyed for you!!!! :-) Hugs, love, prayers and all my best thoughts!!
- AUTHOR
@ Gypsy Rose Lee – I’m so glad we make you smile :) You know, smiling is the very first human expression of happiness – and we can enjoy doing it until the end of our days.
@ Mike Robbers – The tuba is not at all difficult to play. But then, everything is difficult until we know how to do it. However, to play a wind instrument like a professional takes a lot of talent and hard work. Thanks for attending Gypsy's audition :)
Magnificent hub, Martie and I enjoyed the videos a lot. I always considered tuba as a very difficult music instrument to play. Voted and shared!
Quietly coming back again and again to read your comments and have a huge smile on my face. Thank you one and all for your fantastic comments and it's nice to hear you like my musical choices and have been coming back for a listen. Nell my choice of music is whatever sends my heartstrings singing and of course also provides much inspiration. Hugs to you all and especially to the leader of the band Martie - love ya.
- AUTHOR
@ Faith Reaper – I am sighing with relief. I almost thought something was wrong on your side... :)
@ Nellieanna – Thank you for your lovely comment. At a time in my life I allowed my emotions to rule me. They have played yo-yo with me and eventually pulled me down from one dark level to the other – self-doubt, self-pity, self-disdain, acute depression. When I finally hit the bottom and looked death in the face, I realized with a shock that I WANT to live and that I want to be happy. It took me 2 years to change the pattern of my thoughts – from negative to positive. (Really, it is not that easy to change one’s pattern of thoughts and behavior.)
Ever since then, when a negative emotion such as anger or sadness overwhelms me, I simply handle it like I would handle a sick child - come to terms with it – then focus again on all the beauty to be appreciated with all my heart. Being happy or miserable is after all merely a choice and willingness to focus on the positive instead of the negative.
This is the cat-style of living – opposed to the duck-style (the insensitive way), or the pig-style (rolling in the mud of misery.)
Of course, Nellieanna, this is also your style and you are the best role model.
Love you lots :)
Martie and Rasma - I like everything about this hub and the choice of and for its newest member of the wonderful Hubville Symphonic Wind Orchestra! I read every word with keen interest, dear Martie! You've outdone yourself with this one! A perfect pairing of talent and instrument for our beloved Rasma!
Rasma, your characteristic direct replies for the music you associate with the authenticity of your emotions is amazing and certainly will serve you well being the tubist for the Orchestra.
Thank you for introducing me to Mary Hopkin. I feel like I've 'met' her before & the song is somewhat familiar, so it is so nice to 'find' her here~ ! Your other song choices are really special, too. I love the Willy one and the Neil Diamond one, especially. They each capture the emotions in a special way - which is as beautiful as it is accurate.
Martie - I read your comment to Faith and applaud your decision to welcome & entertain the happiness into your life. Just remember that all our emotions are authentic and need expression; we just don't need to hang on to the sad or negative ones after they've 'been there and can go'. Also - we are able to feel the joy to the same depth as we've felt the pain. Love you!
So thank you both and much love to you both!
No, dearest Martie, I really do not need to listen to something sad, I just love Willie Nelson :)
All is good, and I am with you on only being happy the rest of my days!
Hugs sweetie, Faith Reaper
- AUTHOR
Oh, Faith, I hope you don't really need something raw. The older I get, the more I ignore sad songs. They provoke only sad and painful memories and I have decided - quite a couple of moons ago - to be only happy. Take care, you dearest lady :)
Came back to listen to something Raw . . . and Willie is the ticket! :)
- AUTHOR
Lol, marcoujor! LMAO!
Oh boy, my life online would be so boring without you!
Came back to listen to an Angry song...Elvis is a fabulous choice...
- AUTHOR
Pamela - Even only 6 months exposure to any classical music instrument makes a lasting impression. Thanks for the votes :)
tillsontitan - Thanks for your lovely comment. I am proud of my son, but not only because he is a musician, but because he is a winner. Since 1994 white men down here don't have many opportunities to climb the ladders of success, nevertheless, he sticks to his principles and gives his all while heading for the top.
bravewarrior - the orchestra is growing. By Christmas we will have musicians on all instruments and then we will give a great performance :)
Eiddwen - Thank you so much for attending Gypsy's audition :)
Brilliant Martie and voted up.
Eddy.
Great hub Martie. I love Rasma's music choices, especially Willy Nelson. You've got quite a talented orchestra!
"...the most amazing musicians in the band, always fun to be with, persevering and the most important individuals in a marching band....." Sounds like Gypsy! Certainly a most important individual in Hubville!
You always take a simple hub, sprinkle it with lots of good information, turn in a wonderful person, then bake it up with a personal touch!
Voted up, useful, awesome, and interesting. P.S. You have every reason to be proud of your wonderful (and good looking) son!
Martie, This is a fantastic hub. I love all the videos and the information on the tuba. I love all types of music and my very limited experience was about 6 months of clarinet lessons when I was a child. You did a great job with this hub. Voted up and everything but funny! Hugs.
- AUTHOR
Gypsy, I am so glad you found this 'awesome'. Thank you so much for participating in this fun-series of mine.
I am also neglecting my piano, and not to talk about the flute and piano-accordion.... There is just not enough time in a day to do everything we love to do.
Did you see Colin's input? Check this link ~
https://hubpages.com/literature/Happy-is-a-blessed...
Hugs to you :)
Thanks you one and all for your comments. I am proud to be among so many talented and wonderful people and incredibly happy that I can call you friends. Hugs.
Martie I vote up and awesome. Incredible and fantastic and all range of emotions except for the bad that I can think of. Great pic of your son. Playing the tuba seems not to be easy but I admire him for playing this instrument. You have made me once again look fondly at my piano. Haven't had a chance to play in so long but they say it is like riding a bike you never forget once you learn. Thank you for adding all those songs I love. Now I'm sure most everyone can understand how I gain a great deal of inspiration - through songs which express emotions so very well. Thank you so much for this wonderful hub and I'm passing on and tooting my own tuba. Love and hugs to you Martie.
- AUTHOR
Drbj - working on a hub like this always makes a weekend a pleasing adventure.
Mckbirdbks - the tuba and the euphonium are partners in crime. For some unknown reasons these instruments stimulate the sense of humor in their players. We will soon give the NYPO a go... :)
Marcoujor - thanks for the Brava and all those ayobas..... I hope you are doing great with your scales and arpegios on the clarinet :)
Rasma is a wonderful addition to this most diverse and talented orchestra. I love the sound of the tuba...and concur that Gypsy shares these fine attributes.
I knew her song choices would be awesome and am going to enjoy listening to each one...many favorites.
This keeps getting better...Brava! Voted UP and UABI. Love, Maria
- AUTHOR
Hi Colin, I can clearly see a tuba player in you as well. But I am going to ask you to play something else that also suits you..... Don't let me miss that epigram - ! -
Hugs to Colin, Tiffy and Gabriel :))
This orchestra just keeps getting better and better.'Move over New York Philharmonic'. Martie you are the best conductor of the best orchestra ever. (Yes I am bias.)
- AUTHOR
Thanks, Faith, it's midnight down here and I'm taken your beautiful comment with me to bed. BTW, it was never my son's intention to become a pro-musician. For him music was 'playing' and the tuba was like a baby he had to take care of. But by the time he was qualified to go into computers, he could not imagine life without his tuba......
Hugs and love from me to you as well :)
'Loverly,' Martie, as are all your musical hubs. You have done Rasma proud with this tribute and I salute you both. Tube players must be strong of muscle and heart, and it would appear that Rasma and your very handsome son, Steven, both fill that bill admirably. Hope your weekend was pleasurable.
Well Rasma is a real sweetheart and definitely one of my favorite humans in the world and so are you my Martie of Marvelous.
This is such a fun hub and an educational one too - I love the tuba personally and I feel an epigram coming on - lol , you know me , lol , I was inspired by all of this.
I have a cd recording and it's a tuba quintet and it rocks, lol, try playing something like that at three in the morning to wake up the neighbors, lol
Sending you big hugs from our Canadian summer courtesy of Colin, Tiffy and Gabriel at lake erie time 5:22pm
I have been waiting with anticipation for the next inductee to the Hubville Symphonic Wind Orchestra, and I cannot think of anyone more perfect than Rasma, "Gypsy", as I have loved reading her amazing poetry since I joined HP, and always love her choice in music.
You are so right about that oompah band, as it would truly be disastrous without the tuba.
What a great photo of your very handsome and talented son, so intense!
Voted up ++++ and sharing
Excellent my dearest Martie, as always!
Hugs and love, Faith Reaper
- AUTHOR
Hi, Sunshine, Yes, Rasma took me for a long stroll down memory lane..... I hope you are still practicing 'You are my sunshine' on the sax? The solo will be yours.... :)
- AUTHOR
Biilybuc, with you on the trumpet and Rasma on the tuba the orchestra will definitely stay on track. Thanks for the blessings - I have a hectic week ahead. I'll catch up on your writings asap, Billy, wishing you a productive week.....
Way to go Rasma, a tuba is a heavy instrument! Fabulous songs you selected! Blasts from the past.
Martie, Nice shout-out to your son, you must be very proud.
Awesome audition ladies! :)
A fine choice, Martie! I will gladly play alongside one of my favorite poets.
Wishing you a blessed week ahead my friend.
bill
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