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I'm filling in for a local amateur orchestra in order to get some conductor brownie points. On the half of the program that does not involve tuba, we'll be playing two movements from that great unfinished gem, Schubert's 8th Symphony. As the group doesn't have a third trombonist, I've been playing the part. Outside of the gorgeous first movement, I don't recall ever hearing this work before, so I have two questions:

1.) Is it a big deal if I'm playing Tbn 3 on CC tuba? I don't wanna bring an F tuba because this is a community group with bigger problems than what I'm playing and no one in the audience will care, and I'm lazy and loath to carry another tuba. But if someone makes a compelling argument, I'll do it.

2.) Any recommended recordings of this piece? Like I said, I'm starting from square one with it and would welcome any tips for listening/playing.

you could do worse than to find Georg Solti and the Vienna Phil for a recording.

As to playing it on a tuba, remember that a Schubert ff is not a Sousa ff, the notes are longer, or rather fuller in length than we might play usually, with really rather subtle accents, so no punchy playing even in the loud bits, tempos can be a bit fluid in the 40 bar rests, so you need to take care, and finally play it as written, not an octave lower, it is part of the brass colouring. not the fundamental bass line. If you can play it in context with the music and the orchestra, it shouldn't matter which tuba you play.

A salvation Army composer, George Marshall, did a brass band transcription of the first movement of this piece in the 1920's that holds up as model of classical music arranging almost 100 years later, I don't know if he transcribed the 2nd movement, but I really wish we had it.

this is music of the highest order, as a tuba player you should play it, play it with respect, but above all enjoy it