Planets - choice of Tuba

[jmh3412]

Advice needed. I'm due to play for a performance of the Planets next weekend and haven't received the part yet. Although I'm not worried about the notes, what instrument would colleagues use.

(Naturally being in the UK, the EEb is the first choice, but BBb is also an option since I recently bought a "mans" instrument_

Does anyone have a copy of the part just in case............

Many Thanks

[Chuck Jackson]

The Bass Tuba part is VERY rangy, pedal D# to high C. I have only played it once and that was on CC. Hate to say it, but it lies best on CC, especially the running arpeggios in Jupiter. BBb would be great, but you will have to woodshed Jupiter and work the tricky 6/4 lick out in Uranus. Mars shouldn't be a problem and all the stuff in Saturn would be a breeze on BBb. I really can't imagine doing it on EEb, not because of the instrument, I don't think I could think that fast!!!! It is one of the best "fun" pieces to play. Tenor tuba is like a Euphonium treble clef brass band part, perfect for your friends who envy the fact that you play in an orchestra!!!! Cheers.

Chuck

[Rick Denney]

Advice needed. I'm due to play for a performance of the Planets next weekend and haven't received the part yet. Although I'm not worried about the notes, what instrument would colleagues use.

(Naturally being in the UK, the EEb is the first choice, but BBb is also ano ption since I recently bought a "mans" instrument_

Does anyone have a copy of the part just in case............

Many Thanks

Most I have seen use their largest instrument. There are some licks that work better on smaller instrument, but more where the extra weight will be needed to balance the rest of the orchestra, especially with all of them trying to play it louder than it has ever been played before.

But Holst would have heard it first on the very tiny Barlow F tuba. That puts the pressure on the trombones to provide the power in Mars in particular, and also in Saturn. Both of those movements have parts where considerable earth needs to be moved, and it sounds better to me if you can hear the tuba long with the bass trombone.

Of course, the standard disclaimer applies. I've played it with several of the world's best orchestras, but only in the privacy of my living room.

Rick "who thinks this work as well as any reveals the defining characteristic of 20th-century orchestral music: power" Denney

[finnbogi]

When I played the Planets, I had recently switched from BBb to Eb as my main horn, so I faced the same question.
I decided to use the Eb horn, and it worked very well. I had quite enough power for the loud stuff - even in the basement register.