Dear readers. It gives me great pleasure to bring you today, in this series of "virtual chats", a tuba player who needs no introduction. His international recognition for his musical quality, his long orchestral experience and his brilliant project Tubamania, make words superfluous and I invite you to share the reading of this interesting interview.
Without further ado, I would like to thank Steve for his collaboration, patience and friendship.
Let's begin
· Name and surname: Steve Rossé
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| Back stage in Shanghai, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, 2015 tour |
· What instrument / s do you use?
Tubas in F, CC, and BBb
· What manufacturer and model are the instruments you use:
Walter Nirschl York Model 6/4 CC, Miraphone 181 BelCanto F Tuba, Rudolf Meinl 5/4 4 rotor BBb Tuba, all silver plated
· What manufacturer and model are the mouthpiece / s you use:
Perantucci Gold Plated PT 64 and 86
Let's talk about your EDUCATION:
· When and where did you start your Tuba studies?
High 8th Grade Greenfield then in High School Granite Hills HS El Cajon Ca USA.
· At what age?
Started at age 14
· What reasons or circumstances led you to study this instrument?
Had braces, so trumpet was painful and I always loved the low sound of any ensemble
· Who were your main teachers?
High School: Private teachers Ted Bietz Grades 9-10, Brent Dutton grades 11-12.
University Daniel Perantoni and privately with Roger Bobo in California
Following University: Arnold Jacobs, Abe Torchinsky, Mel Culbertson, Robert Tucci
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| First picture on the steps of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in 1990 |
Regarding your vast PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Please give us an account of your experience as a soloist, member of chamber groups, orchestra, band, etc.
· In Orchestra and / or Band:
San Diego Symphony Sub Summer Contract 1987
New Mexico Symphony (USA) Principal Tuba 1987-89
RAI Torino Symphony Orchestra (Italy) 1989-1990 Principal Tuba
Sydney Symphony Orchestra Principal Tuba 1990- Present
Philadelphia and Boston Symphony Orchestras, Substitute & 2nd tuba
(commuting from Sydney 2003-2011)
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Visiting Principal Tuba ( 6 Months) 2018
· Concerts as Soloist:
Vaughan Williams Concerto with Sydney Symphony Orchestra 1991
Bozza Concertino with the Tasmanian and Concerto Soloist with ITEC Orchestras in USA and Hungary (John Williams) 2002 & 2004 Adelaide Symphony Orchestras 1992
World Premier Rafael Marcelino Concerto “Art of Resonance” 1998
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| 6 month contract at the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (Amsterdam 2018) |
Please tell us about your experiences as an Opera Orchestra Tuba in Australia.
Performed the entire Wagner Ring Cycle in the Sydney Opera House, as well as Strauss Elektra, Gershwin Porgy & Bess, and other operas by Wagner, Berg, Berlioz, etc…all with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, using BBb , CC and F tubas depending on the composer and opera.
Treating OTHER TOPICS OF INTEREST.
Here in Spain, in some centers the Euphonium is considered to be an instrument that should have its own specialization and, on the other hand, some believe that, as an instrumentalist, one should know and master the Tuba and Euphonium.
• Could you give us your opinion on this and how you would approach this topic in the interest of education and training adapted to the necessary specialization that is currently required worldwide?
Any tuba player who also can play euphonium will have advantages including a stronger high register, faster fingers, and flexibility of employment in the commercial industry. It is a good instrument to double on but should also have its own specialization for people who play only euphonium to specialize for top military band careers solo careers etc……All universities and conservatories should offer a euphonium degree.
• How do you see the tuba and euphonium teaching today and with a view to the future?
We need to be teaching our students in a way that when they win their professional band / orchestral positions they will contribute to the ongoing lifting of professional standards for the entire ensemble. We also need to teach them to be great teachers! And to be teaching our students how to make independent careers as teachers, soloists, chamber musicians and contributors to online content (YouTube etc)as not all will win orchestral jobs.
• Please tell us anything else that you consider of interest on this topic.
Focus on the music, fundamentals, and be goal and project orientated.
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| Hosting my first TubaMania Conference in 1995 with guest soloists / master teachers Roger Bobo and Mel Culbertson and the 3 prize winners |
Let's talk about your EXPERIENCE IN TEACHING:
· Tell us in which learning centers you have taught classes (visiting teacher, courses, master classes, etc.)
· How do you organize your classes and the topic in general?
Sydney Conservatorium of Music ( 1993-present)
Australian National Academy of Music ( 2015-present)
Zurich ZHdK Switzerland (2014-2019) as Assistant Professor
I organize my lessons and courses by asking the students what are their goals, why are they there and what do they expect and dream to achieve during their time of studies. I then format a plan for them giving the m the musical and fundamental foundations needed and teach them goal achieving strategies.
· How long are your classes?
Private lesson 1 hour to 1.5 hrs, group classes 2 hrs
· Do you think it is important for a student to make public presentations during their years of study? If so, how many times do you consider it appropriate and at what age or grade? Elementary, Professional, Superior?
Yes throughout, it is important to get used to performing un public, but many dress rehearsals, and mock recitals should be given in private as well to insure the public outings represent the student the best.
An important part of the course curriculum is standardized and based on the idea that the student masters the repertoire alone, sometimes to the detriment of the large group repertoire (Orchestra and Band), when in fact the majority of Tuba students and Euphonium are going to be teachers and / or members of a band and, to a lesser extent, of an orchestra in the case of the Tubas.
· In your opinion, how should this problem be addressed? How important do you think it is to include learning and mastery of the orchestral repertoire as part of the course curriculum?
The real life is an orchestra or band for most, but globally university programs are “solo degrees”, nearly everywhere. Lessons should be broken up to say 2/3 what the university requires, and 1/3 or so on excerpts and foundations for them, hold mock auditions within the studio in addition to what is required.
· If I had to choose as a student (in a hypothetical situation), would you have a preference between a Tuba student and a Euphonium student?
Tuba because I play tuba.
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| Ride a unicycle as a teenager at the same time I learned tuba, this photo Sydney Park, 2014 as a promotion for my Sydney International Brass Festival |
About your DAILY WORK.
· What type of repertoire do you mainly work in?
Orchestra
· What warm-up exercises do you use?
Scales and arpeggios eventually hitting the full range and all dynamics and articulation styles, slurring, lip slurs and flexibility. Breathing and buzzing in the mix
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| Recording many movie soundtracks including the LEGO Movies, Happy Feet, Gods of Egypt and more, fox studios Sydney 1999 to present |
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| Part of performing Star Wars many times at the Sydney Opera House means time with the robots, this taken in 2019. |
TALKING ABOUT TECHNICAL ISSUES:
· Could you give us your opinion on the different concepts of sound and what characteristics define it, the articulation, the types of instruments, the literature, if the influence of language and musical tradition on sound is considered important and how to play?
Language affects sound and articulation in a sense. The sound needs to firstly be beautiful in the opinion of the musician and those that they play with. It should have a nice center and vibrancy to enhance the ensemble. People should play the best instrument they can access and afford but be more focused on how they play more than what they play.
· Tell us a bit about the manufacture of Tubas and / or Euphoniums and mouthpieces and tell us about your experiences and tastes of a particular manufacturer and why?
I like any manufacturer or mouthpiece that produces an instrument that brings out the best possible voice for the player, and that colleagues love playing with, especially the instruments that produce a great color, personality and blend without getting in the way of the ensemble, . For this reason I have always like Nirschl, B&S, Melton, Miraphone, but that is only my musical taste in how I experience these sounds.
Steve, you are create the interesting project “TubaManía”. Please tell us about this
TubaMania began in 1993 as a tuba importing business for the Australian market then began hosting international conferences, competitions and festivals from 1995 and continued to 2019 throughout Australia and Asia. Due to the pandemic of 2020/21, I created the TubaMania Online projects to motive us and inspire and connect us. I am also creating my own online course ULTIMATE TUBA. This will be available in May 2021. Info at www.tubamania.com .
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| TubaMania festivals across Asia and Australia , Hong Kong (TubaMania 2017) |
IN CONCLUSION:
· In your experience, do you think that the diversity of interpreters, instruments and the opportunity to train in various specialized schools is being homogenized in the interpretive centers that are already established? (Example: Russian, American, German-Austrian, English, etc.).
There is a general globalized trend of tuba and orchestral sounds, but there is still individuality. For example, some American Orchestras like the big piston 6/4 tubas, while others prefer the B&S PT6 sound, or other.
Nearly all of the German orchestras still want the BBb and F tuba combination, and in the British-influenced countries, there is a large movement of 3+1 upright piston Eb and BBb tubas. On the high end of the solo circuit today, we have Oystein on a rotor Eb, and others on rotor or piston F, and some play a collection of these, such as James Gourlay.
All very individual. Then when we get into the topic of opera, we have a traditional trend in Italy that influences opera houses globally to use cimbasso and here we have them as piston, rotor, and in multiple keys.
Steve, it is a pleasure count on your experience and collaboration in this series of interviews.
Thank you very much and best wishes.
A big hug.
