Vaughan or Gregson Concerto ????

[Rick Denney]

I prefer the Gregson, simply because it's definitely a work for a brass instrument. It has the heroic quality, and some moments where the tuba player can absolutely own the room. Think Strauss Horn Concerto.

Despite that Vaughan Williams is one of my favorite composers, the tuba concerto isn't my favorite. Personally, I think it would sound just the same, or even better, if played on a bassoon. It just doesn't have that heroic brass quality.

The tuba solo (ironically in light of my above statement, in a duet with the usually unheard bassoon) in the third movement of the Vaughan Williams 4th Symphony is a better demonstrate of RVW's abilities with the instrument. Or the solo lick in the 2nd Symphony.

But given that RVW never heard any other instrument than a Barlow F, he might not have really realized what could be done with a tuba. He certainly heard big tuba playing from German performers for works like Wagner, and he certainly wrote plenty of heroic brass music for his big works, but he didn't take advantage of that when it came time for the Concerto.

Rick "thinking the Gregson is underrated" Denney

[Wyvern]

This may be a reason more tuba players don't read the Bevan book.

http://www.amazon.com/Tuba-Family-Cliff ... 0684154773

That is the original addition. This is the one to get
http://www.berliozhistoricalbrass.org/tuba_family.htm

[Geotuba]

This may be a reason more tuba players don't read the Bevan book.

http://www.amazon.com/Tuba-Family-Cliff ... 0684154773

That is the original addition. This is the one to get
http://www.berliozhistoricalbrass.org/tuba_family.htm

Hmm - maybe I should consider selling my first edition that Cliff Bevan gave [1] me in 1978 when he was our low brass tutor in the Surrey Youth Wind Orchestra.

[1] "gave" as in "handed to in exchange for cash"

[Rick Denney]

This may be a reason more tuba players don't read the Bevan book.

http://www.amazon.com/Tuba-Family-Cliff ... 0684154773

Anyone willing to pay me $1750 for my first edition of Bevan's book may contact me by PM. At that price, I'm in the market. I'll even dig around and find where I put it.

Plus, I also have the current edition, for which I paid $60.

Rick "who bought the first edition in 1986 at Half-Price Books in Austin, Texas for, well, half price" Denney

[numbnutstubist]

I think one way to look at it is that it depends on what you want your audience to get out of the performance. If you want to give your audience a more historical perspective about the roots of the Tuba as a serious solo instrument, then go with the Vaughan Williams. If you want your audience to walk away humming a really great tune (And probably feeling more than a little pumped up by the Indiana Jones-like harmonies in the third movement), you should play the Gregson. That makes me lean towards the Gregson because I think that the audience is more likely to get excited about the Tuba as a solo instrument and want to hear more of it after hearing a piece that can strike the kind of chords that the Gregson can Strike.

BUT, when it comes right down to it.... Both are great pieces, both are solid choices. I don't think you can go wrong with either one.

[BriceT]

Gregson sounds great on CC!