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Vaughan Williams 4th Symphony, Copland 3rd (low range facility).

bloke wrote:

This one. Played the Grand Canyon Suite a few years ago and spent that entire concert cycle wondering why it wasn't on auditions.

Love Grofe, what a fun piece!

Berg, lots of sections from Wozzeck
Hindemith, Mathis der Maler (especially for section playing)
Lutoslawski, Concerto for Orchestra, and Symphony 3
Revueltas, Homenaje a Federico Garcia Lorca

I like this topic!

I always figured some of those mid-20th century post-tonal works could be easy audition enders.

Muted + atonal + big range + dynamic contrasts + complex rhythms = A real quick way to thin the herd.

Further to what Bloke said about hearing everybody play the Meistersinger Prelude, in many cases several would drop out simply by playing notes full value, taking a breath then coming in late on the next note rather than shortening the note before the breath and coming back in on time.

The most beautiful sound in the world is not much use if you don't start each note exactly on time.

Wade - Yagotit!!!!!!!

I have a CD of a European orchestra where the tuba has a big, beautiful sound BUT ruins the whole thing by getting out of time.

Jake demanded timing.

CSO brass - renowned for TIMING - Great ENSEMBLE playing. AND - Could you blame a committee for wanting to hear somebody play in a setion before they get "the gig" ?????

THE TUBA wrote:I always figured some of those mid-20th century post-tonal works could be easy audition enders.

Muted + atonal + big range + dynamic contrasts + complex rhythms = A real quick way to thin the herd.

It sure thins out an audience!!

Miraculous Mandarin

It's like rhythm - either ya got it or ya aint got it.

Besides Grofe's 'Grand Canyon Suite', another good tuba piece not on auditions is 'Babar the Elephant' by Poulenc. If I remember, that piece has the tuba part play in a solid 3-octave range and includes a pretty nice, exposed little tuba solo. There are also a few 'lopsided' rythyms and meter/key changes within the piece.
It's not hard-hard, but it definitely demands more than the typical moderate-easy tuba parts. You can't be a slouch on the piece

Three Octaves??

YGBSM!!

Poul Ruders - Concerto in pieces - Variation V

Also liked Seppo Pohjolas Symphonies 2 and 3 brass parts.

Thank you, apkujala, for mentioning Pohjola - a composer I was not familiar with. I checked out his first two symphonies online - some very interesting stuff.

Third can be found on Youtube

apkujala wrote:Third can be found on Youtube

Anders Hauge(?) appears to be playing both a bass and a contrabass tuba in this performance.

"Ritt der Walküren" (or maybe, "Once I Had A Secret Love"), up a half step every measure.

Now, that's fun.

Steve Marcus wrote:

apkujala wrote:Third can be found on Youtube

Anders Hauge(?) appears to be playing both a bass and a contrabass tuba in this performance.

Had to check myself, but yes you are correct, I did use both. Actually can't remember how the part looked after the first part, but I can remember I didn't want to use Cc tuba at the beginning.
Anders only plays on 1st one on the recording in Spotify.
I liked the 2nd symphony part, still have copy of it somewhere.

And to original post, Kalevi Aho's Syvien vesien juhla (Rejoicing of the deep waters) had pretty nice tuba part. Not totally horrible contemporary music either.

The solo out of Oscar Navarro's "Libertadores" is pretty challenging. 192 (or greater) bpm with triplets and sixteenth runs.