Just found out that I've been given the opportunity to perform with a group next year. I've been asked to find as many difficult solos with easy accomps as possible. The conductor of the ensemble has asked that it be a showy tuba piece that has an accomp of 4 or less. Seems like most accomp resembles the solo, and that is making it hard to find a piece that fits the mold.
Any ideas? The first one that came to mind was the Macbeth "Daniel in the Lion's Den".
Thanks a million!
p.s.- I'm sure this has already been addressed at some point, I did some searching with the search tool, but found very little. SO, if you happen to remember the previous topic post about this, post the link.
tubashaman wrote:the introduction and dance by barat has a band accompaniment, so does the lebedev concerto in one movement, the piano and wind parts are relatively easy. Also, the frakenphol concertino is not a bad choice
What level is the windenesmble at....the gregson might be doable if the wind ensemble is good at working up fanfare type parts
He's looking over the Gregson, although he didn't seem too interested (not sure why). Saying, wanted the solo part to be harder than the Gregson. This rules out the others you mentioned. The VW is ruled out, simply by the grade 6 accomp.
I'm not really sure what to do, it is hard to find a solo with a large disparity between solo and accomp parts.
djwesp wrote:I'm not really sure what to do, it is hard to find a solo with a large disparity between solo and accomp parts.
Which is precisely why I arrange my own stuff for tuba and high school/community band.
So far I have Carnival of Venice, Tuba Polka (Canadian Brass), and Flight of the Bumblebee (a la Harry James). If you know a decent arranger for marching band in your area, they should be able to take a piano score and expand it to an easy band arrangement. You have the extra advantage of being able to add extras like cadenzas or little comedy bits as well that way. Also, you can modify the solo for your particular strengths/weaknesses...I can't make the phrases on the last variation of Carnival of Venice, so I simply left it out of my arrangement.
Best of luck, and congratulations on getting a solo nod!
djwesp wrote:I'm not really sure what to do, it is hard to find a solo with a large disparity between solo and accomp parts.
Which is precisely why I arrange my own stuff for tuba and high school/community band.
So far I have Carnival of Venice, Tuba Polka (Canadian Brass), and Flight of the Bumblebee (a la Harry James). If you know a decent arranger for marching band in your area, they should be able to take a piano score and expand it to an easy band arrangement. You have the extra advantage of being able to add extras like cadenzas or little comedy bits as well that way. Also, you can modify the solo for your particular strengths/weaknesses...I can't make the phrases on the last variation of Carnival of Venice, so I simply left it out of my arrangement.
Best of luck, and congratulations on getting a solo nod!
Willing to barter for the CoV part? Is it the same as the arban trumpet book version minus the phrase differences?
I was featured soloist last summer with "Variations on Barnacle Bill, the Sailor" with my band. It's a bass trombone solo, with optional tuba arrangement (I play the BTrb part). The band parts are not at all difficult. The solo part... it's as difficult as you'd like to make it. Typical theme and variations, plenty of challenges.. lots of opportunity to play music and enjoy yourself. It's a real crowd pleaser. The arranger is Jaimie Hafner, a tubist from NC.
This will also be on my upcoming solo CD as I'll be the first tubist to record it. Charlie Vernon and Denson Paul Pollard have both recorded it for Bass bone. Of course, I'll be doing it with piano accompaniment.
Plenty of great choices out there.. I'll throw in my own personal favorite.
My work called "Tapestries" was designed for just that. I've performed it with low-level university bands and a fairly decent high school band. It was written for Andy Carlson and the Navy Band, but don't let that scare you. It's a 5 movement work written in an early music style--very challenging tuba part, with relatively easy band part. It won the Harvey Philips ITEA Composition Award last year. I'd be happy to send you a recording/part if you'd wish. Just email me.
MISERICORDE, n.
A dagger which in mediaeval warfare was used by the foot soldier to remind an unhorsed knight that he was mortal.
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