Most Audience-Friendly Tuba Solo Literature

[Bignick1357]

I have always had great success with the Effie Suite. Its nice lyrical and it's got a funny story you can convey to the audience!

[J.c. Sherman]

Usually, our instrument shines exhibiting the music written for others. VW, Gregson, Effie and others are "nice", but the classics are classics because they've entertained grillions of people for decades or centuries.

Victor Davies' concerto has gotten great audience reactions, so I'd encourage that. Horn music translates very well, so Strauss, etc. shine with us as they have for horn players. Tough blow, but worth the audience reaction!

Clarke, Arban, Llewellyn, Pryor, etc. are built to entertain, and entertain they do! Beelzebub does too, of course.

"If I only had a brain" always works, but doesn't cast us in the best light.

My favorite has always been Clarke's "Bride of the Waves". Do it well, and the end will have the audience leap out of their seats. It's perfect tuba music

[Heavy_Metal]

Question,why is it called Them Basses when it's nothing more than a soli number with the trombone section? Nothing against trombone because I play that as well.

Don't know for sure- maybe tuba players were in short supply at that time and place......

[Z-Tuba Dude]

Question,why is it called Them Basses when it's nothing more than a soli number with the trombone section? Nothing against trombone because I play that as well.

I guess the title really refers to "basses" in its more general meaning, because the soli also includes euphoniums, bass clarinet & bari sax (maybe tenor too?).