|
| Author | Topic: Cerveny (Baltic) Alto Horn (alto tuba) |
| Greg |
posted 3/22/08 7:26 PM
I've fielded a number of questions over the years regarding the Eb "alto" horn with a bent bell, such as the Cerveny CAH-511, and will eventually have compiled enough information to cover this instrument and the family to which it belongs. *** The Cerveny horns with the bent bells, also referred to as "Kaiser" brass, "oval-shaped" brass, "Baltic" brass and a few other terms, are a family of tubas developed by Cerveny in the 19th century and have their own history which parallels that of the saxhorns (such as the Eb tenor or alto horn, the so-called modern "flugelhorn", and the "British-style" small-bore baritone). *** Of historical note, the shape of the Cerveny horns was borrowed when the Wagner tuba was first made, which is why the Wagner tuba is the same size and shape as the Cerveny Eb alto horn. *** Playing-wise, a lot of Eb saxhorn players have told me they were unimpressed with the Eb tuba (which is what the Cerveny Eb alto horn really is), and several tried to warn me off the Cerveny. But I have since tried both the Cerveny and the St Petersburg versions of this instrument and like both very much. I borrowed both horns and only had them for a few weeks each, but had them long enough to be able to rate them.*** The better of the two horns was definitely the St Petersburg, but the St Petersburg Tuba company has either gone out of business or is no longer advertising on the Web. They were making very good tubas at a very reasonable price, and their version of the Cerveny was in keeping with both the price-range and level of quality-control St Petersburg was known for. The Cerveny is not a horn to discount. I would rate it as bordering between a student and professional intrument, or as a very good student horn or an entry-level professional horn. This means that it's a good horn that requires a little extra effort from the player, and a professional player can make it sound like a professional horn.*** Sound-wise these alto tubas require a knowledgeable approach to getting the most out of them. Euphonium players, for example, seem to instinctively be able to nail the timbral centre of these horns, whereas Eb tenor horn players tend to try to make these horns sound and play like a saxhorn. This isn't any different from French horn players trying to make a mellophone sound like a French horn, or trumpet players trying to make the soprano trombone sound like a slide trumpet. The best sound I've ever heard on the latter has always come from trombone players who are actually able to make a soprano trombone sound like a trombone.*** The best usage I've heard Cerveny alto tubas put to is in all-tuba bands consisting of alto, tenor (euphonium), Eb and Bb tubas. They also go well with saxhorns. |
| Craig |
posted 3/23/08 5:46 PM
Is this the St. Pete site? http://www.stpetemusic.ru/index.php?lang=en |
| Greg |
posted 3/25/08 7:03 PM
That's them! Thanks for that! Their old website has been down for a while. Now why no mention of their Eb alto, I wonder? I hope it's not "special issue" or discontinued, or maybe the company changed hands, as so many have done recently? |
| Greg |
posted 3/25/08 7:05 PM
Here's the dang thing! Pop the link: http://www.stpetemusic.ru/catalog.php?lang=en&cattype=1&subtype=4&idgood=121 |
| vegasgeorge |
posted 3/26/08 4:20 AM
That looks exactly like my Mirafone Alto. |
| Greg |
posted 3/29/08 7:15 PM
? I wasn't aware that Miraphone had ever made a Cerveny-style alto. |
| Stanford Adelstein |
posted 4/20/08 4:34 AM
I HAVE A CEVERNEY TENOR (ALTO HORN IN THE US) AS A YOUNG MUSIC2IAN I PLAYED THE FRENCH HORN BUT HAD TRIED FOR YEARS TO MAKE AN ALTO SOUND "GOOD" TO MY EARS.I LOVE THE SOUND OF THIS HORN, THE RESPONSIVENESS OF THE ROTARY VALVES, AND RICHNESS OF EXPRESSION POSSIBLE FOR THE 40 MINUTE A DAY HOBBYIST. |
| Stanford Adelstein |
posted 4/21/08 8:05 PM
You have all gotten me interested in the Miraphone - but why is the price over double Cevrney? What are the Miraphone's special characteristics.Thanks for a reply |
| Greg |
posted 4/22/08 8:58 PM
If you want one, get the St Petersburg. It's much less than the Miraphone and is easily as good a horn. The difference over the Cerveny is quality. The Cerveny is a student horn, albeit a very good one. |
| Craig |
posted 4/22/08 10:26 PM
Miraphone no longer makes an oval alto horn. Or is it just not listed on their website? |
| Greg |
posted 4/24/08 6:46 PM
Miraphone seems to operate a bit like Cousenon these days. I keep hearing that Cousenon has gone out of business, or that they're discontinued certain of their horns, but they're a small outfit and people I know who have contacted them have been able to get what they want. Miraphone likewise seems to be a smallish outfit that's just getting by, and they too have horns that people say are discontinued that nevertheless keep getting made. |
| Stanford Adelstein |
posted 4/27/08 6:05 PM
GregThis might sound pretty stupid, but what do you mean by "quality?" Also, do you know anywhere in the US that I could try either a Miraphone or a St Petersburg?I will be in Edinburgh, Scotland this summer and Florence, Italy next month. Do you know of anywhere in either place?Thanks |
| VegasGeorge |
posted 4/30/08 10:51 PM
Mirafone only made the Althorn for a few years. It was discontinued a long time ago. I think they were trying to break into the American marching band market, but didn't make it. |
| Greg |
posted 5/1/08 7:39 PM
Stanford, if you click on one of the above links to St Pete's you'll be able to get all the info you need on the St Petersburg horn, which they refer to as an "alto horn". Miraphones are discontinued, but you might find an old one on eBay or by Googling. |
|
|