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Hey everyone,

Being a student of the tuba, I have decided that it would be an interesting project and probably a great learning experience to transcribe and learn a violin concerto. I have done a little research and have come up with a few that seem to be fairly well suited to tuba. They include the Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and Mozart's 3rd and 5th Violin Concertos. Yes, I am aware of the undertaking that it will be to learn a violin concerto on tuba, but I feel it could be a great experience and a possible showpiece for the future. Anyways, does anyone with a little violin knowledge have any insight on some possible rep.?

Thanks

Introduction and Rondo capriccioso, Op. 28---Saint-Saens

I use an arrangement handwritten by Andy Anders some years ago. The transcription he did actually fits with the Violin's Orchestral Reduction Part for Piano. It isn't for the faint of heart.

Isn’t there a fairly easy shortcut available for players of CC tubas letting them avoid any paperwork but for the penciling in of breath marks? Maybe also planning a few octave displacements.

Most brass players even remotely approaching abilities allowing for playing violin music would know trumpet fingerings. Apply these when playing the music from the original violin solo part. Of course employ the 4th valve en lieu of 1+3. The music will thereby sound two octaves lower than written. The most extreme high passages may need to be taken down one more octave.

This approach allows for play-browsing many more concerts before deciding before making a decision.

And no I don’t play CC tuba for real, even if I have one.

Klaus

It's not strictly a concerto; but The Lark Ascending might make a good tuba solo.

Mark wrote:It's not strictly a concerto; but The Lark Ascending might make a good tuba solo.

Surely anyone who enjoys that piece would be musician enough to know that it should never ever be arranged for tuba. What would you re-title it? The Do-Do plummeting!

I hear the Khachaturian works well on tuba

I applaud you!! Don't let anyone, especially other tuba players, keep you from pursuing this project. While this will be a great experience for you, I also believe, in a small way, you also help to advance the cause for tuba players everywhere. Audiences will hear what a tuba can really do and composers/arrangers may be inclined to create better and more interesting tuba liturature.

Richard White (New Mexico Symphony) should be your hero. He, too, is a pioneer for tuba lituature. I believe he is working on the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto. Ask any violinist, and Tchaik would be toward the top of their list.

Think a brass player cannot play a work this difficult? Think again. Malcolm McNab, trumpet, recorded the Tchaik Violin concerto on his CD Exquisite. Every brass player needs to hear this. I would cheapen the performance just trying to describe it. You must hear it for yourself. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/malcolmmcnab" target="_blank" target="_blank

I digress, back to your question. My advice: a project like this needs to be "your own." Don't pick something unless YOU love it. I would go to YouTube (my favorite research tool) type in Violin Concerto and just listen to everything you can. When you hear what you love, THAT'S the one. (I like the Brahms)

Also, think about Cello Contertos, too. On average, they are a bit less technical and, of course, designed for a lower instrument.

davetubaking wrote:

Mark wrote:It's not strictly a concerto; but The Lark Ascending might make a good tuba solo.

Surely anyone who enjoys that piece would be musician enough to know that it should never ever be arranged for tuba. What would you re-title it? The Do-Do plummeting!

No, I would entitle it The Lark Ascending. But, not being much of a musician, what would I know.

Find another good player and try Bach's Double Violin Concerto. It works really well with Euphonium and Tuba