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I played this piece on a CC while I was still in college. Not only is it doable, it's a blast if you haven't done it. I'd say go for it if you feel able!

Kenneth wrote:I was asked to play that famous prelude with an armature orchestra. As many of you know, a tuba player must hit very high notes for the solo part of this piece. Well, I do not have neither F tuba nor Eb tuba. I play CC tuba (yorkbrunner), and I do not have any other options.

Huh???


No F tuba, but you have a Yorkbrunner?

Sirens are going off.....

You're asking this question and you own what is now a $20-25K instrument?

That's just a chunk-a-lunk of change for an intermediate player to spend on an instrument....unless you're borrowing it or came upon the horn some other way.

Hey, whatever......that's awesome...you won't have to worry about getting another CC......

AVC

I agree with the sentiment of the last 2 posts.I suggest a cheaper CC and an f could be easily had by selling the yorkbrunner.I'm a wimp but I like to use my big horn for the opening and f for the soli section.The high register and trill both work much better for me that way.

I only have a CC, too, and it's VERY doable. I hope everything turns out well!

Ralph

richland tuba 01 wrote:I played it on a Bb...I know, believe me, I know. Of course I've also done Bydlo, March to the scaffold, and the hungarian march from the damnation of faust. It's amazing what your range can get to when you have no money/resources

Correctomundo! The best horn we can get our mitts on is the one we are going to have to coax the right sound out of (dangling participle).

Doc wrote:England - I'll guess Eb

Yes, it has aways been on Eb whenever I have seen it played by UK orchestras.

Regarding using a CC. I can see it would easily be within range of a CC and if that is the only tuba you own, will be fine. But to produce the most appropriate sound a bass tuba (F, or Eb) would be better. I think a CC could be over dominant in that higher register soli.

Kenneth wrote:Thank you all,

I feel much better to accept the offer. I am still thinking how to play that trill part with such high notes. Yet, reading your posts, I can't find any big problem to decline the offer, and I shall go for it! Thank you.

If you've got a Yorkbrunner, here's a way to control the trill. Play the A 1&2 but use the 5th valve to trill up to the B. The basses and cellos(celli for the purists) don't trill as fast as you might think. I find the thumb trill fits in beautifully with what the strings are doing.

It's not as clean as a lip trill but I'd use it in any performance with orchestra.

bloke wrote:
I thing it's kinda dumb that some are becoming distracted and off track due to the supposed cost of your instrument, and dwelling on this more than they are their own opinions/experiences regarding your inquiry.

Bloke, you know as well as I do that people troll here...it seemed a silly question to ask if you own such a superlative instrument. I know a superlative instrument doesn't make a superlative player, but that's an expensive toy for an intermediate player to possess.

We all have different means....and it's incredible that Kenneth has an instrument that he can keep for the rest of his career...that's foresight. But it still set off sirens in my head.

I've been wrong before....I'll be wrong again.

AVC

Well, pshaw, you don't even have to be all that good to play it on a CC.

Evidence myself, who did it on a CC two or three years ago. My F tuba would have been a little easier to play the high E on but much, much more difficult on the low Cs. You don't even need valves on a CC for those notes above middle C....they are all open.

MA, who is not trolling

I live in Germany, and recently played meistersinger in the orchestra, along with reinzi and tännhauser, all on the c-tuba. (I'm not a big guy, but studied with "big guys")

my collegues were impressed and shocked. they told me they have never heard these pieces played on a big tuba before and really liked the sound.

that got me to thinking - maybe next time try them on the small tuba. it might bring more clarity...hmm...maybe worth a try.

Well the piece is a CC tuba part. At least when you audition everyone plays the piece on CC tuba. However when you actually get into an orchestra section it does make alot of sense to play the piece on and F tuba.

Bob1062 wrote:Aren't there a few different versions of this?

As far as I know there is only one version of Prelude to Act 1 which is that usually played, although Prelude to Act 3 also occasionally comes up in concert.

I just auditioned on tues on 4/4 cc for orchestra and nailed the high E. That isn't the hard part its the in my opinion the A to B natural trill. Use the Arnold Jacobs slurs in each scale key and gradual work up to the high E or even Higher.

Daniel Rathert

lol THAT DAMN TRILL! It can be a problem, just work that sucker till its second nature.

Ummm....hmmm....at PT-30 huh? I can see that being used but that may cause some sacrifice in the "ideal" sound for the peace. I have played it on a PT-44 and the upper register came out fine but I thought that maybe alittle bigger would have worked out better for it.