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What are some of the really demanding concertos?

LOL, Bloke!

In the Tuba category, the tessiturra of the Ewazen comes to mind as quite a challenge. Unfortunately, it wasn't until after the performance that Mr. Ewazen informed me that, not being a brass player, he doesn't mind if passages are dropped an octave. I did this on a few small passages, but might have experimented with more. When the Bass trombone plays it, it's in a very comfortable easy range so I think some dropping of octaves makes sense.

I'm working on the Ewazen right now and I definitely agree about a few of the passages could be taken down.

What is your definition of tough? The Plau appears to be pretty demanding. Mike Roylance premiered Gunther Schuller's second tuba concert last year and it appears to be rather difficult as well.

A list of what I think are demanding concertos:

- Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra: John Williams
- Tuba Concerto: Martin Ellerby
- Concerto for Tuba: Roland Szentpali
- Tuba Concerto: James Woodward

There are plenty of others, but these are the ones that first come to mind for me.

I've always thought that Elisabeth Raum's "Concerto del Garda" belonged in that category

What is the range of the Ewazen? I keep meaning to check that out...

Roger Kellaway--Songs of Ascent
Roland Szentpáli--Concerto
John Stevens--Journey (specifically for the big horn)
John Williams--Concerto
Fredrik Högberg--Rocky Island Boat Bay
Helmut Lachenmann--Harmonica

The Jorge Salgueiro cONCERTO fOR tUBA sounds pretty tough.

Of the pieces I've seen, I will have to put my vote in for the Songs of Ascent that was mentioned in an earlier reply. Mostly due to the crazy range. Don't have it in front of me, but I distinctly remember that most of the last page was noted in treble clef---at pitch.

The concerto by Samuel Jones is a pretty tough one. Chris Olka recorded it with the Seattle Symphony several years ago

I'm working on the Salgueiro now - quite a blow. Great music though.

The 1st. Euphonium Concerto by Ken Friedrich, some of his best writing for the instrument!

http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?PID=739330&t=6734" target="_blank

CB

Sometimes, it's not just the range of the piece, but how long it sits in a certain tessiturra and how those notes are approached that makes a piece difficult. The same idea goes for fast passages. 32nd notes in scale form can be cake, but add some tricky intervals, and it can be murder.

my two cents,

TheHatTuba wrote:What are some of the really demanding concertos?

Have you ever looked into the Blokesterpiece Concerto? It has motifs from "Masterpiece Theater" (Rondeau) as well as Memphis blues mixed in. Check it out.

Jan Bach Tuba Concerto. I refer to the 3rd movement especially with markings like "as legato as possible given the circumstances."

Hindemith, if only for the 3rd movement - bordering difficult for the tuba, but demanding (and almost impossible) for the piano.

tooba wrote:

TheHatTuba wrote:What are some of the really demanding concertos?

Have you ever looked into the Blokesterpiece Concerto? It has motifs from "Masterpiece Theater" (Rondeau) as well as Memphis blues mixed in. Check it out.

OP asked for tuba concertos. The blokesterpiece was written for blokeophone, though I'm sure it can be done on tuba.

In the discussion for most difficult tuba concertos should be:

Songs of Ascent - Roger Kellaway
Landskap - Torbjorn Iwan Lundquist
Tuba Concerto op. 127 - Vagn Holmboe
Concerto for Tuba - Jan Bach

I haven't seen the score for the tuba concertos by William Kraft, Atso Almila, Lasse Eerola, or Jukka Linkola, but based on other works by these composers (the last three being Finnish) I would bet that they also belong in the discussion.

Concertos like the John Williams, Woodward, and Ewazen are tough and present some challenges. The four I've listed above, however, are a step above that, I think.

You can view my live performance of the Roger Kellaway at http://www.youtube.com/user/larsontuba
The Songs of Ascent and Lundquist Landskap are also on Aaron Tindall's solo CD. Holmboe's Concerto is available via iTunes, performed by the Danish tubist Jens Bjorn-Larsen. As far as I know, the only recording of the Jan Bach is a bootleg of Jay Hunsberger performing the world premiere in Tampa.

Maybe some day those other four will get recorded.

Cheers, TubeNet.

Andy Larson

I definitely agree with Andy.

Also, is there an actual Tuba Concerto by William Kraft?

BAtlas wrote:I definitely agree with Andy.

Also, is there an actual Tuba Concerto by William Kraft?

From this website about William Kraft and his life and works...
http://www.presser.com/Composers/info.c ... LLIAMKRAFT" target="_blank

Concerto for Tuba with Three Chamber Groups and Orchestra revised version of 'Andirivieni' (1977, rev. 1979) -- 18'
Tuba Solo; 3(Picc., A.Fl.)-3(E.H.)-3(B.Cl.)-3(Cbsn.); 4-3-3-0; Timp., 3Perc., Pno.(Cel.), Hp., Str.
Available from the Presser Rental Library
Commission Information: Zubin Mehta and the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Premiere Information: (Andirivieni): Los Angeles Philharmonic, Roger Bobo, tuba, Zubin Mehta, conductor; Los Angeles, CA; January 26, 1978. Revised version not yet performed.
Additional Information: Originally titled Andirivieni.