YSM acquires permanent collection of Wagner tubas

This fall, the Yale School of Music acquired four Wagner tubas after a collaborative and meticulous process led by horn faculty William Purvis. Wagner tubas, commissioned and named after composer Richard Wagner, were developed to bridge the acoustical and textural gap between the French horn and trombone. The sound they produce has been described as “smoky,” “metallic,” “unearthly,” and “majestic,” and their unique qualities make them rare in a standard instrumental armory at a graduate-level music school.

The instruments, two single Bb and two single F tubas were ordered from the renowned Alexander workshop in Germany through Wichita Band Instruments in Kansas. 

 “These tubas will provide an invaluable resource for our students, enhancing their preparation for auditions and professional opportunities while also supporting their growth and flexibility as horn players and musicians,” said Purvis. “Spending time on those instruments reinforces a healthy approach to the horn, while expanding their imagination for sound color.”

For decades, YSM has relied on older Wagner tubas owned by the Yale Band or borrowed instruments from external organizations, such as the New York Philharmonic, and this newer acquisition will update the quality of instruments the Yale community has access to.

The tubas appeared in a recent performance of Bruckner’s Eighth Symphony by the Yale Philharmonia, and students have also been using them in innovative ways. During a recent recital, Braydon Ross, ’25MM, utilized the unique characteristics of both types of Wagner tubas.  “In my two song transcriptions, I played the Bb tuba to access a warm, lyrical vocal sound in performing the songs,” he said. “On Deep, a work for solo instrument and electronics by composer Alex Shapiro, I used the F tuba in order to produce a resonant and wide sound in the low register, which really fit well with that work. These instruments opened new possibilities for sounds to showcase in a recital setting and helped me think about some of the repertoire in a new way.”