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I play tuba in a community band, a pretty standard symphonic wind band with brass, woodwinds and percussion.

I'm looking for a piece that features the tuba section, not a one person solo piece. The piece should not be too difficult, we're all amatures...

Suggestions anyone? "Buglers Holiday" came first to my mind, but I don't know if it'll work well for tuba.

The March "Them Basses"


Not very hard at all, meant to highlight the tuba section.

If memory serves me correctly, "Varations on a Theme by Robert Schumann" (or something like that) has a spot where the band drops out for a bar or two and there is a tuba duet. Due to the voicing (both parts kind of low), the result can sound a 'bit' muddy if played on larger horns, but hey, it features the tubas.

Whoo hoo!

How about "Big Joe the Tuba" march by Paul Lavalle?

Tuba Tiger Rag, perhaps?

It could fairly easily be done as a section feature.

bassax wrote: Suggestions anyone? "Buglers Holiday" came first to my mind, but I don't know if it'll work well for tuba.

It does work well - our community band did it with 3 solo tubas (and remember it still needs someone to play the "orchestral" tuba part) about a year ago and it was well received.

Years ago I played just such a piece with the tuba section of my local community band. The title was "Camptown Basses" (you can guess what the theme might be) and the whole section sat up front. It was great fun and very well recieved. I'm afraid I don't have a publisher for you, but it ought not be too difficult to find.

The feature you select is going to depend largely on the skill of the section as a whole...including the 80 year old retired dentist that sits at the end of the section in front of the timpani--speaking from my own community band experience here. That in mind, here are my suggestions/comments.

Bugler's Holiday--Nice idea, likelihood of real success: 1/50. The solo parts are in 3 part harmony in what turns out to be a very muddy range for tubas (especially the third part), so getting the full effect out front is damn near impossible with the band. Probably would work much better in a recital setting with a piano.

Them Basses--The default tuba section feature for the last 80 years or so and for good reason. Its not very musically rewarding (read: not at all), but it is properly orchestrated; audiences dig it; its not too technical for the players; and its a breeze to put together. Out of print, I believe.

Basses Bravura--Similar in conception to Them Basses, but not as well known. Also OOP.

Tuba Tiger Rag--There is a band version of this published by Hal Leonard (I think) that is based on the Luther Henderson arrangement for the CB. It requires some rehearsal for the band, but the section parts aren't particularly difficult. The chart functions nicely as that "jazz number" that community band conductors always feel compelled to include in programs without being that terrible concertized swing that community band conductors always seem to find hiding at the back of the file cabinet when they can't find any decently arranged tune to include.

World is Waiting for Sunrise--This is a Euph. feature, but the tubas might be able "help out" on the solo lines, if you wanted to do something a bit more inclusive. I've never done this, so attempt at your own risk.

Stars and Stripes--You know you want to have the tubas stand up instead of the piccolos. Just make sure the section has the technique for it, cause it's HARD.

National Emblem--Not really a tuba feature per se, but it does have that nice extended low brass blow that the composer somehow stole from the Jingle Bells arrangement in the TubaChristmas book.

Kyle

There is always Buglers Holiday. Check out The Skyliner by Harry Alford. A hell of a lot of fun to play.

How about American Salute. This does not fall into the solo catagory but it has an amazing tuba duet(bassoon really but great done on tuba) and an all around great low brass feature with some very fun low lines. Theres also the pic part from stars and stripes which I have seen done in section before.

Nobody mentioned Bombasto which is along the lines of Them Basses. Both of which I would rather shoot myself in the head than play again.

There is a very nice version of the Wizard of Oz out that has
some nice melodic tuba section solos in it and is overall a very nice arrangement for the entire band. I think Community Band directors think pieces like Them Basses show the audience that the tuba can play fast. More often than not it shows how muddled the sound can become. Plus, the runs are doubled by the trombone section. If they want to showcase the tuba I think Communiy Bands are better off using pieces showing the instrument playing a nice melody that folks can recognize.

Try "A Circus Suite". It has four parts:
I. Bareback Riders
II. Elephant Act
III. Trapeze Artiste
IV. Slapstick

It's like having solo everywhere without playing alone

Part I. is a up-tempo piece.
Part II. is the tuba section solo (who else )
Part III. is very slow (Trapeze artiste swinging)
Part IV. ....the title tells you enough...funny

Have fun,
Patrick

P@rick wrote:Try "A Circus Suite". It has four parts:
I. Bareback Riders

tofu wrote:If they want to showcase the tuba I think Communiy Bands are better off using pieces showing the instrument playing a nice melody that folks can recognize.

Absolutely! I believe this is true for all manner of tuba solos. Melody should be king.

How about Carnival of the Animals, band arrangement, the section called L'Elephant which is a tuba section solo as the Orchestral version is a Double Bass solo. Difficult B section but playable with work.

I recently played an arrangement of the Beer Barrel Polk with the Oregon State U Marching Band. It was a tuba feature playing much of the melody. Unfortunately, I don't remember the arranger. The crowd loved it.

Wilco wrote:

P@rick wrote:Try "A Circus Suite". It has four parts:
I. Bareback Riders

No it's not: Sitting naked on a horses ***!
It's: Sitting on a naked horses ***!