Bolero Back2Back

Toby Oft Bolero 7/11/14 in preparation for Saturday Night Tanglewood Performance with Garage Band accompaniment

[@3grizzlies]

Toby, beautiful playing, in fact, these two performances of Bolero were the best I have ever heard during a lifetime of following the Bolero solo.

[@TobyOft]

Thank you so much for all your input and kind words about my playing. This video post wasn't so much a comparison of Bach to Edwards as I was trying to make a case to discuss Small Bore (.525) / Large Bore (.547) trombone choices on the job in the orchestral field. I discuss the matter with much more detail in an article on my website (link below). www.tobyoft.com/equipment Take care, happy practicing!! -Toby

[@classikonnick]

Dear Mr. Oft, First of all, betifual playing on both instrumets, may I ask what mouthpiece you use for the small bore bach for bolero? Do you use a differnt mouthpiece for alto trombone?

[@stephenr8615]

I guess to have a true apples to apples comparison of small bore vs large bore, perhaps you need to go with the same manufacturer? My preference is the large bore, in general, but specifically once you get into the lower range--much fuller sound. Since you have a lovely lip vibrato, why not use it exclusively throughout the excerpt rather that the slide vibrato (which IMHO belongs in the jazz idiom)?

[@brassedoff2437]

@@stephenr8615 Ravel was strongly influenced by jazz, so a little slide vibrato here and there is perfectly acceptable and adds rather than detracts to it.

[@JonBlondell]

I'll throw my 2 cents worth in. First of all, I really like your vibrato! Somehow different than what I usually hear, lovely! And I preferred the Bach. Just my taste, nicely done.

[@zacharyzapico7]

To be honest, I thought the Edwards was much darker and more consistent, which usually tends to be a great thing. But, with this particular solo, the trombone was still a tiny little bright thing. So for this excerpt, I'd go with the Bach.

[@pablito162]

I think it is a matter of taste. I like the darker sound of the Edwards better also. Everyone's trombone test buds are different.

[@plunger9165]

@@pablito162 same, I think it’s personal preference

[@GregLopes]

Definitely the Bach 36. The smaller Bach 36 has a clarity and singing quality that the larger Edwards can't quite match.

[@EnemyOfWormwood]

I liked the clarity and quick-responding sound of the 36 on the first note (in particular) and first half (in general), but preferred the warmth (yet with greater power) of the Edwards on the 2nd half of the solo. I wish I would have the opportunity to perform it at that tempo some time. Quarter = 60 is the fastest any conductor has every taken it when I've played it and it's usually in the mid-50s. I always feel like I'm running a long-distance marathon.

[@alessandrareis3328]

Wonderful. I like Bolero Ravel. Very good. Congratulations. Brazil !!

[@themightyquinn94]

Great playing! I can't get enough of that back track though, reminds me of the Michael Davis book accompaniment; so cheesy and so dang good.

[@busterharris2360]

36 all the way!

[@LA-Brass]

BGM is funny haha I like Bach 36 more! Beautiful!

[@sebastianoburelli3721]

The sound is very beatiful, and the use of the articulations is effective

[@clintonhey6600]

very good, i should know, my brother played in lockwood brass band on trombone for 40yrs

[@zacharyzapico7]

To be honest, I thought the Edwards was much darker and more consistent. Which usually tends to be a great thing. But with this particular solo, the trombone was still a tiny little bright thing. So for this excerpt I'd with the Bach.

[@pisgahlite]

The Bach, smoother less strident. The interpretation as good as it gets.

[@hthomasmcgrady]

Both were great but the first one wins the job. Wish there was a tuba part to this.

[@nathanm6138]

Gotta say I love the edwards

[@kuangli115]

the first one sounds the best.

[@bobboscarato1313]

Great interpretation; it sounds better than my Bach bass trombone!

[@sabutin]

Of course, it was originally written to be played on a small bore French-style trombone of the era with a decidedly more V-shaped m'pce than most modern ones. Probably .485-ish bore. Also, it was at a lower tuning pitch...A 436 at the time as opposed to possibly A 442 now? Lower? That said, the .525 sounds SO much better.

[@timzawicki1393]

Where have I been? YES! the .536 instrument is more appropriate for this solo. Of course being a bass player I would't know but it must be easier to play in the first place therefore open to nuances that aren't even thought of with the struggle of the .547. Bravo Toby!! (P.S. Bach gets my vote) Thought of it - Maestro Sousa would be appalled hearing a Trombone section of .547 instruments in his Band (Arthur Pryor would never consider a symphonic size instrument.

[@gabrielbustos2706]

@0:20 @1:19 for side by side comparison

[@tomnormannnilsen2770]

No doubt, the Bach 36 for this solo. The style you get, the sound, the clarity. As I heard Jay Friedman said it one interview, Its possible to play this part on a large bore, but it will never be good.

[@paulkemp3579]

The 36 is much better...clarity is amazing...did you consider doing it on a straight 42? I also liked How you set up the metronome.

[@patrickredondo4110]

i like the edwards warm sound

[@glauciosantana4631]

great!!!

[@mariman1234]

In the beginning the Bach sounds really light and is much more pretty in the height. At the second half the Edwards is much more powerful at the lower register. Both really cool but for now I prefer the Bach!

[@flictortormbon]

Baaaachh!!!!!

[@davidpaul286]

I'm curious about the reasoning for choosing slide or lip vibrato on certain notes. You use mainly slide vib in the first half of the solo, and mainly lip vib in the second half. Is it for security in the upper register, or for stylistic reasons?

[@TobyOft]

David Paul I prefer slide vibrato for bolero in the upper register and the lip vibrato as the tessitura descends. Unfortunately I don't have much of an explanation beyond that's just how I hear it in my head as the way it should be played

[@guilhermegiffoni8281]

Na minha modesta opinião, eu prefiro o Bach em todos os sentidos. Tais como brilho, igualdade de notas em todas as regiões, afinação etc...👏🤝

[@peculiarproductivity7311]

What size mouthpiece are you using on the Edwards?

[@TobyOft]

Thank you for your query - On the Edwards I am using a Greg Black Oft 5

[@santosbasstrombone]

I prefer the 36

[@doctormarks51]

Both, of course, are well-played! The Bach has a great brightness to it with high overtones helping to cut through beautifully. The Edwards has more of a baritone horn darkness with less "treble" than the 36. In a piece that also has a sax solo, I'd go with the Bach with the smaller bore and lighter timbre. Was a Bach 42 also a consideration?

[@jonathans1612]

What mouthpiece was used on the Bach? Was it a Doug Elliot?

[@barryveryallen]

I think this mouthpiece is griego toby oft lamda 4.5

[@dakotatrigg5794]

Where can I get metronome like that

[@TobyOft]

Dakota for the “metronome” on this recording, I used the Mac app, “garage band” hooked up to a blue tooth speaker. It can a be a fun way to find a groove for your excerpts than a mechanical click that can sometimes result in robotic phrasing

[@farquell5782]

yeah, to me the edwards sounds like you run out of air. btw what mpiece on the bach, please.

[@victortorres1930]

Is there beatboxing in the background or something?

[@victortorres1930]

Nvm it’s Garage Band.

[@markthornton1621]

I wish is was a Bach 42 vs the Edwards. I play a Bach 42AF and a Bach 36. Would never play Bolero on the 36

[@raulomargarcia]

36!

[@프로포크유망주]

0:19 1:19

[@jackburrows5850]

I know it’s kinda late to say this. But if you can convince the whole orchestra to use period instruments, go for the 36, if they don’t like period instruments, go for the large bore

[@jenejames4613]

It's funny, I like the higher notes on the Bach better than the Edwards, but I like the lower note tones better on the Edwards than the Bach...... Isn't there a trombone that can do both???? =) lol

[@albertorossi5913]

Bach 36 più indicato in questo solo... nella seconda parte l edwards é molto potente e con un fantastico suono ma nel complesso preferisco il bach 36

[@RobertoGomezPiano]

Bach

[@xkay-six1845]

Honestly I was expecting the Bach to be way more bright and “toyish” than it was

[@PumilateVFX]

why?

[@xkay-six1845]

@@PumilateVFX straight trombones tend to not have the darker richer sound of an f attachment tenor or a double valved bass, they’re really good for jazz since they can get that brassy sound really easy. It’s nothing on the player, I just notice most of the time when players use the straight trombone it sounds like a toy, and that sound is a sound I don’t prefer in the orchestra.

[@PumilateVFX]

@@xkay-six1845 The only difference is the f attachment and bore it doesnt really sound toyish at all the only thing that makes the tone barely darker is the bore. The f attachment doesn't change the tone at all.

[@xkay-six1845]

@@PumilateVFX I never said it sounded toyish?

[@PumilateVFX]

@@xkay-six1845 you said sometimes

[@Jackson7w]

Dear musician,played fine on both trumpets,the first instrument sound brighter, BUT I wonder where a tool? You could specify in the description of the video or say on the video,normally do so.You have not understand!

[@adrielkedley7859]

Jackson7w thats a trombone.

[@JonatasMonte]

It's weird to hear bolero with this specific beat.

[@lukasnordanskog3682]

Bach 36.

[@anterivo]

36

[@camilamaiotti5960]

Bach 36

[@joanmartinez4441]

Could you tune your instrument?

[@joanmartinez4441]

Really bothers me

[@jbiere]

wiat..... seriously?

[@samkwok3583]

And you are..?

[@dabqu]

kinda cringe, good tone tho