Do these have tuba parts?

[Biggs]

Our school orchestra is playing a concert of all Chinese music, conducted by our Chinese guest conductor. We don't know what the instrumentation is. Does anyone know anything about these pieces?

Spring Festival Overture - Li Huanzhi

The Song of the Tibetian Highlands – ???
The Song of the Yangtze River – ???
(soprano solo)

Second Xinkiang Dance – ???

Tribal Dance of the Yao – Mao Yuen and Liu Tieshan

Good News From Beijing – Zheng Lu and Ma Hongye

[Biggs]

Bump just in case.

[wrobotuba]

For many pieces of Chinese folk music orchestrated for the concert hall stage, there are oftentimes SEVERAL different versions. Most all of them are in manuscript, unless someone has actually taken the time to enter them into Finale/Sibelius. Be aware that if you have the ORIGINAL manuscript parts, (or, I should say, copies of...) you are probably going to see a lot of crap like crossed out measures and arrows leading you all over the place...(What's white-out??) However, most of the corrections should lead you safely to the last measure along with everybody else.

Spring Festival Overture - Li Huanzhi
Yes. Pretty straight forward. Think lighter (more on the Brahms side of things) on all of the stuff in this work. Yeah, the tendency will be to play heavy but don't succumb to this. It's an overture for one of the biggest holidays in China. It shouldn't be played like a tuba part for a football pre-game show. Good taste and refinement should be at the forefront.

The Song of the Tibetian Highlands – ???
If the version by Feng Kai Jie, then Yes. FYI, if it IS this version, the opening notes are NOT to be played as grace notes, they are glissandi, which are intended to imitate the Tibetan horns and should also be played an octave lower. SO, it's a gliss from pedal E flat to pedal F---no bumps. If you can't do it cleanly, don't do it. The trombones will be alright on their own. In the middle there's a nice section where the trombones and tuba have a little vamp. Have a pizzicato type of articulation in mind throughout, until you get to the half notes. Near the end, the trombones have a descending line of eight notes (FF, EbEb, DbDb, etc...) The tuba has single notes. Play what the trombones play. If you mess it up, you didn't get the idea from me....
FYI all the Bb's that seem to occur when the trombones stop are to be played. I always give them just a shade more attention. I don't knock them out of the park, but I make sure they don't sound like I know there are there.

The Song of the Yangtze River – ???
(soprano solo)
If this is an excerpt from the cantata, then I THINK there may be a tuba part on this. Off hand, I can't remember. If there is one, it won't be much work.

Second Xinkiang Dance – ???/Tribal Dance of the Yao – Mao Yuen and Liu Tieshan
For both of these pieces, I will go out on a limb and say "probably". Again, as with other works, there are many versions floating around. I have played pieces bearing the same names as listed, but I have also NOT played them on concerts... The ones I have played weren't shining examples of great orchestration. So, be prepared (possibly) to have stuff written in weird places and entrances that should be on auditions--be prepared for anything. That said, don't be afraid to consult the score if you think something looks out of sorts. Many times, as you have seen/will see, the tuba and bass trombone are written on the same part, so, there may be some notes which you don't NEED to be concerned with.

Good News From Beijing – Zheng Lu and Ma Hongye
Yes. Make sure you play the descending 16ths which are written for the Bass Trombone (you should play them an octave lower) Make sure they are clean and not muddy. If you play it clean and anyone gives you any guff, tell them you got it from me. If you mess it up, you're on your own....
At the very end, have fun, but let the trombones provide the edge-- on all the Eb-D-C-Bb-Ab-Bb-C-D measures. Remember, cleanliness is next to Godliness...

Approach all of this stuff as if they were from the pens of Prokofiev or Brahms, or you name it. You should think this way, because others will not. The music has depth, but you have to find it. Sure, it's harder to find sometimes, but it CAN be found...and THAT is why we do what we do.

cheers

[wrobotuba]

many thanks for the kind words, elephant...actually, I'm a wolf in sheep's clothing..

[Biggs]

Thank you! Your insight was very helpful, and, as I learned today, dead on (not that I would doubt you...). I am already looking forward to the performance.