Tuba

Wurlitzer Tuba Horn
Wurlitzer Tuba Horn
Tuba Mirabilis
Tuba Mirabilis

Often the ‘first’ chorus reed of a theatre organ.

Construction:
Metal, tapered resonators.

Tonality:
Smooth yet loud reed. Capable of underpinning the ensemble as well as blending in smaller registrations.
The tonality is noted below against the typical stop names for each builder.W = Wurlitzer, C = Compton, Ch = Christie.

STOP NAMES

Tuba (C)

Smooth but powerful chorus reed with sufficient ‘edge’ to give an almost menacing assertiveness. Untremulated, produces powerful blocks of tone when played with Diapason or Tuba, or with 16′ and/or 4′ pitches.

Tuba Horn (W)

Smooth tuba, often relatively mild in comparison to the Compton reference.

Tuba Mirabilis

‘Most wonderful’ Tuba; denotes a more powerful, larger-scale stop.

Clarion

4′ extension of the stop.

Ophicleide

16′ extension of the stop. 16′ Tuba Mirabilis may be labelled ‘Bombarde’ (W)