Wagner Tuba-written range

Greetings. I have a simple question on the written range of one of the cousins (at least I think he is) of the Tuba. Does anyone know what the written range of the Wagner Tuba is? Another question I have to pose is what does the Wagner Tuba sound like-does anyone know how it sounds? I know that it has family ties with Euphonium and such, but please enlighten me. Many thanks.

No I don't know the range but I have a book that has the ranges of ll intruments I'll see if I can post later..

As far as I know, the Wagner tuba, or "tuben" is fitted with a standard French horn mouthpiece, and so is played by horn players. The Wagner tuba was invented as a cross between horn and euphonium (or tenor tuba, which has a wider throat and bell than a trombone or baritone), thus giving a rich horn sound, with great carrying power like that of the trombone. It is sometimes referred to as a tenor tuba, but that's confusing because a euphonium is a tenor tuba.

"At the same time Wagner intended a heroic, solemn and stately instrument as a contrast to the lyrical horn. In the end, he was able to realize his idea with the help of existing instruments."

There are two types of Wagner tuben, the tenor tuben is in Bb, and the bass tuben is in F. The ranges are similar to that of the French horn, but the bass tuben will have more flexibility in the lower range. Both are not as flexible in the high register like the stardard French horn is. As it is played with a horn mouthpiece, it can't be played as high as a trumpet or as low as a tuba or euphonium, remember it was invented as a French horn with a bigger sound, so the ranges are similar.

Also, sometimes double Wagner tubas are made, just like how we have double horns. The tenor double tuben is in Bb, and the trigger key will put it in the bass tuben key of F, a fourth below, so it is both instruments in one. However, it IS a double tenor tuben, and can not be substituted for a bass tuben in F, which will play more easily in the low register than the double. Also, I've read that some bass tubens have a trigger that puts the instrument in the key of C, a fourth below, so it would be like a double tenor tuben, only a fourth lower. Another source tells me that the trigger for bass tuben puts the instrument in low Bb, so I'm not sure on the truth. A little confusing, eh?

The following are written ranges. The Bb tenor tuben/Wagner tuba will sound a major second lower, and the F bass will sound a fifth lower. Tuba is just THERE, for comparison.

Here are some samples of the instrument as recorded by Vienna Symphonic Libraries:

Vienna Symphonic Library - Range Samples

Here are some sforzandi and how they sound:

Vienna Symphonic Library - Sforzando Samples

Some single-tongued notes:

Vienna Symphonic Library - Single Tongue Samples

Here's some general notes on the tonal characteristics from the above site:

Lower register

(Tenor: Eb1 - Bb2, bass: ) (sounding pitch)

The lowest notes cannot be played forte and are too weak to function as a bass voice. The higher notes can assert themselves.

Middle register

(Tenor: B2 - Bb4, bass: (Gb2 - F3))

Dark timbre, heroic / solemn effect. More volume than the horn. Most frequently used register.

Upper register

(Tenor: B4 - Bb5, bass: (Gb3 - F5))

Brightens the timbre; not as bright as the horn, but richer.

I'd also like to mention that Wagner tuben, due to having the same mouthpiece, have the same playing techniques and possibilities as French horn, but intonation is a greater problem than on the French horn, as the hand can note be inserted into the bell to correct such errors. The Wagner tuba also takes more air than a standard French horn.

Keep in mind that Wagner Tubas are rare. Don't bother to write for one unless you know someone who actually possesses and plays one.

The Bb Wagner Tuba is the same length as the Bb side of a horn, and the F Wagner Tuba is the same length as the F side of a horn. As EnigmusJ4 pointed out, since they use a horn mouthpiece, there are pitch issues with these instruments. (a Bb Wagner Tuba has the same tube length as a Euphonium, but the mouthpiece is half the size and the tube width is larger)