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That would be the first time I tried to improvise over the changes to "Midnight In Moscow." Not a tough tune, but I couldn't figure out the form to save my life. Two choruses, and they seemed to last about an hour. The string of obscenities running through my mind was at once profound and disturbing.

I've got one that has haunted me for 12 years, called "Malta". Has anyone else seen this thing? It is for tuba and tape. Holy cow, that thing makes Encounters II look like "The Jolly Farmer Goes to Town". My teacher in grad school (Karl Hinterbichler) turned me on to this beast. I know it has been recorded, I just do not know who played it. That piece still makes me want to cry. Gregson it aint.

Cameron Gates

Walz for Mippy III by Bernstien on a B&S PT4P with a megatone 24AW. Next time I'll do it with the right equipment. Namely my Naked Lady Eb with a Bach 30E.

Sousie

I don't remember the most difficult piece I ever played.....
Its all kind of a blur at this point
Two that stand out to me that I played are the Raum "Concerto del Guarda" and Kraft "Encounters II".

Holsinger, Kansas City Dances. I have done the second movement twice (accompanist got out of synch on the recital but hard to tell) I hope to someday do the 1st and 3rd movements. Lots of jumping around all over the horn, fast runs, and double high C's, not to mention being very independent of the accompaniment.

If we use the term 'played' very loosely, then I would say The Triumph of the Demon Gods. Although despite my ineptitude, I like the piece very much.

The Bozza Concertino is pretty insane. My teacher says it's a piece you only play once to "prove you're a man".

Everything I've ever played. Even years later when I went back to it.

Along the same lines as the original question:

What is the the most difficult piece you starting working on, thought you would never be able to play, but eventually performed?

tuba4sissies wrote:I havn't played(and it'll be a quite few years before i can)..

but its called "Czardas".. as far as i know its a tuba virtuouso piece.. and my recording of it.. its Baadsvik playing it.. and a great job at it he did. you need miracle lips to play this song.. wow.

Is it based on the music from that Sean Connery movie with the giant flying stone head?

-Eric

Hot Cross Buns

Shockwave wrote:

tuba4sissies wrote:I havn't played(and it'll be a quite few years before i can)..

but its called "Czardas".. as far as i know its a tuba virtuouso piece.. and my recording of it.. its Baadsvik playing it.. and a great job at it he did. you need miracle lips to play this song.. wow.

Is it based on the music from that Sean Connery movie with the giant flying stone head?

-Eric

It was written by Vittorio Monti in the 16th or 17th century, originally for Mandolin, though more popular as a violin party-piece. Once you get past the tonguing it's a fun piece that isn't too challenging.. no complex rhythms or anything like that in it.

the BEST recording i've ever heard of this piece was on marimba, Evelyn Glenny with the LSO. Amazingly executed.

Krishna by Luedeke is a blow and change. It's not technically THE hardest thing, but putting it together with the percussion orchestra is rough, but totally worth the time if you have a group that is willing to work their butts of to do it.

Bill Pritchard

Depending on your definition of what makes a piece of music difficult, I might say the Hindemith Sonata. Not at all difficult in terms of actually playing the right notes, but extremely difficult to play with the musical maturity required to communicate what that piece is capable of.

Also, for any of you interested in a tuba 'n tape piece, Three for One by Scott Wyatt is a pretty good one. Pretty challenging but not impossible, and reasonably interesting.

"Fantasy for Tuba and Piano" by Daniel Crozier. This piece was commissioned by Caryl Conger as a gift to the tuba-euphonium world and was world-premiered by Dan Perantoni.

Doc, those pictures are just so wrong. I mean, damn. Props to you.

I agree with Ralph that Parable is a tough piece.


Josh

Ralph, Mark Nelson did one "New England Reveries" Crystal Records label Cd-691. Check it out its a good recording.

Josh

The Tuba Man