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I am lucky enough to be on the programme selection committee of my main symphony orchestra, so get a real say in what we play in future concerts.

In the present difficult economic situation we are looking to perform works that are highly audience friendly to fill the hall, as well as being not too expensive to programme (so ideally minimal augment players, music inexpensive to hire and out of copyright).

Personally I also want to be proposing music with a decent tuba part for me to play, so will not be putting forward Mozart, or Beethoven

Will be looking for solo (concerto) works as well as overtures and symphonies.

I have started a list, but would welcome suggestions!

I am an arts administrator with two different orchestras (long story) here in the United States.

There are, in my experience, only a handful of works that really sell tickets:

Unfortunately for you, some are huge works that require a chorus and/or vocal soloists. Others have minimal or no brass parts, but they sell tickets...

In no particular order:

Holst: The Planets
Copland: Rodeo (a little "Americana" for you...)
Orff: Carmina Burana
Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture
Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker
Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 (you'll probably sell this one out)
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 (you'll probably sell this one out, too)
Vivaldi: Four Seasons
Handel: Messiah (should sell out, Messiah is quite popular in England at Easter, isn't it?)
Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue

And to a lesser extent: Mahler and Bruckner Symphonies.

I won't even touch on "pops" music...another can of worms!

Neptune wrote:In the present difficult economic situation we are looking to perform works that are highly audience friendly to fill the hall, as well as being not too expensive to programme (so ideally minimal augment players, music inexpensive to hire and out of copyright).

Personally I also want to be proposing music with a decent tuba part for me to play, so will not be putting forward Mozart, or Beethoven

Bruckner and Brahms are both audience-friendly (at least if you don't take all the repeats in Bruckner), have great tuba parts, and are by now in the public domain. (In the case of Bruckner, it depends on the edited version). Brahms 2 and the Academic Festival Overture come to mind as leading contenders.

Mahler is another one that should be in the public domain by now, but you'll have to peruse the library to find works that don't need added forces. The first symphony is a possibility.

Berlioz will give you a reason to play your new F tuba. Symphonie Fantastique is also about as audience-friendly as it gets.

And then there are the Russians--Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Mussorgsky, etc. If want something obscure from that school that still meets your requirements, try Glazunov.

Seems to me enough from that pile to produce the headline tunes for the whole season of most semi-pro orchestras.

And then, since your in England, there are Stanford, Perry, and Elgar, all of which should be early enough to be in the public domain.

Rick "with fond memories of the Brahms 2, not so fond of the AFO" Denney

-A Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra- Britten (1st note is a pedal D, and there's a real nice chorale in there as well)

-A Night On Bald Mountian- Rimsky-Korsakov (some nice low brass parts)

-Sorcerer's Apprentice- Dukas (no tuba part, but still neat)

-West Side Story- Bernstein (Hope you like A#'s...)

-The Throne Room (Star Wars)- Williams (triplets galore)

-Hymn to the Fallen (Saving Private Ryan)- Williams (sweet tuba solo!)

Rick Denney wrote:Mahler is another one that should be in the public domain by now, but you'll have to peruse the library to find works that don't need added forces. The first symphony is a possibility.

I'd also suggest Mahler 1. Its instrumentation is boosted from normal in almost all the winds, though (4 flutes, 4 oboes, 4 clarinets, 7 horns and 4 trumpets).

You could think about a few Revueltas pieces. Sensemaya, Redes, Caminos, Itinerarios, Ventanas, and Janitzio are a few options. If you want something for a smaller orchestra then Senarios Infantiles and Homenaje a Grarcia Lorca (about 18 players approx) would work. There is some extra percussion and a sax in a couple of the pieces but most can be played with a large romantic sized orchestra. I have played Senzamaya, Redes and Homenaje a Garcia Lorca on 2 different European tours with my orchestra and the public loved it. Good luck!!

Pictures was not mentioned at first...put it into consideration, by all means, even though it is a rental only.

Tchaikovsky Bb Piano Concerto--always a crowd pleaser for the first 5 minutes, then once that tune is gone, most audiences wonder what the hell they're there for!

Firebird Suite. It's gotten popular with DCI and marching bands, and is on a TV commercial every so often too. At least in the States...

Bolero should be a draw, if advertised properly.

Wagner--The Ride.

Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. Brahms, maybe...or Lalo.

Dvorak Cello Concerto. Push it as possibly the most perfect piece ever written, certainly one of the closest to perfection in orchestration. (yeah, subjective, but there are more than a few who hold this opinion.)

Rite of Spring could be either way. Promote it as an historical hotpoint, relating to the riots at the premier, and it may draw more butts into seats. A lot of normal audience members may stay home, though. Tough call.

Rachmaninoff 3rd Piano Concerto. They made a movie based on it, could be a good draw.

Tubby the Tuba. Why not? It's not just for Kiddie Concerts any more.

God Save the Queen. Guaranteed standing ovation (in the UK, at least!)

I do not know about its instrumentation, but what about Walton's "Crown Imperial" march?

For a nice solo, try Tchaikovsky's "Variations on a Rococo Theme".

Find Arthur Feidler programs.

Do those.

/thread

I'd like to throw in some personal favorites that I think might fit the bill -

Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique

Gershwin - An American in Paris
- Concerto in F

Rimsky-Korsakov- Scheherazade

Others to follow when my brain unlocks

Dvořák - New World Symphony

eupher61 wrote:God Save the Queen. Guaranteed standing ovation (in the UK, at least!)

Over here we call it "My Country 'Tis of Thee"!!

.

I don't know what it costs to get, but Prokofiev 5 is a good blow, and easy on the ears, too.

TubaGoon wrote:

eupher61 wrote:God Save the Queen. Guaranteed standing ovation (in the UK, at least!)

Over here we call it "My Country 'Tis of Thee"!!

but the OP is in the UK.

Add the Tchaikovsky "Romeo and Juliet" to the list.

in the hall of the mountain king! Anything wagner... not full operas you'll turn some folks off ... just the preludes and the overtures.

You might consider some kind of theme --- a string of Russian "warhorse" pieces, say. Conspicuous by his absence so far on the list is Richard Strauss. Lots of audience faves there - Till, Don Juan, Tod und Verklarung, ASZ. Don Quixote to feature cello and viola soloists, as well as a tenor tuba. Throw in Dance of the Seven Veils and a Rosenkavalier suite as well. And if it hits maybe you can even afford to hire a heckelphone guy.

eupher61 wrote:

TubaGoon wrote:

eupher61 wrote:God Save the Queen. Guaranteed standing ovation (in the UK, at least!)

Over here we call it "My Country 'Tis of Thee"!!

but the OP is in the UK.

Add the Tchaikovsky "Romeo and Juliet" to the list.

Hey Eupher. I figured as much, I was just bein' silly.

Oh yeah, Zarathustra. LIke the Tchaik Piano Concerto, people will wonder what they're listening to after the opening. I just heard that on the radio last night, I would pay to hear that at least once a month--LIVE, not recorded.

tubashaman2 wrote:Anything Russian or Tchaikovsky (I consider him a German composer because of his style.....)

What? You're kidding right... You have to be, if so, its very funny. If not...

Tchiakovsky's Symphony No. 4, a very fun piece to play if you are a brass player (the Finale at least ).
Dvorak: Symphony No. 9 "New World Symphony"
Resphigi: Pine's Of Rome: The Pines of Appian Way
Wagner: Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral (from Lohengrin)
Mahler 5:
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique
--I'm just naming pieces I enjoy playing, and hearing. Who know's what will go over well at your particular concert venue.