Most fun euphonium/tuba part

[Steve Marcus]

what's the euphonium/tuba part to a BAND piece that you, personally, have enjoyed playing the most?...Myself, I'll cheat a little bit. I have never performed this piece but I know it like the back of my hand and have practiced the part a lot. It's the first movement from James Barnes's Third Symphony. Super dark music, nothing but awesome euphonium licks from start to finish .

Rob, you're absolutely right. James Barnes' Symphony No. 3 is a wonderful piece. Like you, I would love to perform the first movement in particular, since it begins with a gorgeous tuba solo! There are excellent passages for tuba in other parts of the symphony, too. After all, James Barnes is a tuba player himself! All four movements are extremely effective; the joyous spirit of the fourth movement balances the tragic darkness of the first movement. It is even more poignant when you are familiar with Barnes' inspiration and "program" for the symphony...

I posted an inquiry about this piece in the "Who played tuba on..." category some time ago. I did not receive an answer, so I'll try again now (maybe it's just that nobody knows!). Who played that tuba solo so beautifully on Southern Music's sampler CD?

[TubaSteve]

As for a single piece, like was mentioned, the classic marches are hard to beat, but my favorite single piece is Victory at Sea. Not so much for the music, which I really like, but the emotion of it all. One thing that we do in the pops band that I play in is for the 4th of July, we play the official version of the 5 branches of the armed services marches. When we do that, veterans from the branch will stand during their march. It makes my hair stand on end! My dad was a navy aviator in WWII and when I play it, I can't help but remember him and of course all those who gave everything.

Steve

[TubaSteve]

As for a single piece, like was mentioned, the classic marches are hard to beat, but my favorite single piece is Victory at Sea. Not so much for the music, which I really like, but the emotion of it all. One thing that we do in the pops band that I play in is for the 4th of July, we play the official version of the 5 branches of the armed services marches. When we do that, veterans from the branch will stand during their march. It makes my hair stand on end! My dad was a navy aviator in WWII and when I play it, I can't help but remember him and of course all those who gave everything.

Steve

I should have mentioned that we play all 5 of them in a string with a 20 measure drum line between them. It is the finale of the program followed by Stars & Stripes. It is a real blow, but worth it.

[thedeep42]

Euphonium - Holst Suites, There's also an old band transcription of Jupiter that had a great part. There's a march composer (contemporary to sousa or later) that was a euphonium player... I can't think of his name or the piece for the life of me, but it had a blazing euph feature (.. The Lord of the Rings Symphony has some wicked stuff in it too.

Tuba - among other things listed I loved playing Blue Shades - Ticheli. To knock that out with a big section would be killer.

[ZNC Dandy]

Tuba parts to...Toccata Marziale, English Folk Song Suite, Maslanka Symphony No.4, just about every German march ever written, anything Karl King or Fillmore. Also, I haven't played it but "Deathtree" by Holsinger sounds like an absolute blast to play. I know some of the USMB guys here can attest to that.

[Rick F]

Euphonium - Holst Suites, <snip> There's a march composer (contemporary to sousa or later) that was a euphonium player... I can't think of his name or the piece for the life of me, but it had a blazing euph feature

Could that be Karl King?

http://karlking.us/kkingbio.htm

"The Melody Shop (1 & 2)" has a great euph part in the trio - 2nd time. But I like ver 2 better myself where the euph has a slow melody in the trio the 1st time, then really technical the 2nd time.

We're doing "The Golden Dragon" - overture at our next concert -- which has 3 euph solos in it. Pretty nice piece.

[tubatom91]

Tuba solo in some christmas arrangement "All I want for Christmas is My 2 Front-Teeth"

[Sean Greene]

Overture 1812
Polka & Fugue from Schwanda

[Jesse Brook]

In my limited personal experience, there's nothing like the thrill of playing Mars on the euphonium. My band is playing the Russian Easter Overture, and the tuba parts, though spaced out a lot between rests, are great. Most Russian music has great finales for the tubas, with the exception of Borodin, who has lots of great parts throughout.

Just my two Canadian cents. (About 1.85 US cents)

[LoyalTubist]

Here are 15 of the best John Philip Sousa marches I have played (none of these was arranged by anyone, although they probably have been arranged by someone at some time or another):
The Stars and Stripes Forever
Semper Fidelis
Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company
Bullets and Bayonets
The Rifle Regiment
Jack Tar
Anchor and Star
U.S. Field Artillery
Powhatan's Daughter
Daughters of Texas
New Mexico
The Thunderer
Washington Post (I especially like the recap of the trio)
Sabre and Spurs
The Bride Elect

[wooliteeuph]

I agree with just about all of the euphonium parts mentioned although I am surprised that no one brought up Tam O'Shanter by Malcolm Arnold. The last page is extrememly fun (although some conductors feel the need to make our fingers fall off by taking it too fast). I also enjoyed the euphonium part to Fantasy on American Sailing Songs by Clare Grundman.