Tuba monsters

me · Post by me » Mon Aug 29, 2005 9:27 pm

i'm writting a term paper on the tuba taking on the role of an animal throughout musical literature. examples of this would be

effie suite
the dragon Fafner from wagner's ring symphony
the bear in Petrushka by Stravinsky
Jabba the hut from star wars
Jaws

are there any other examples that i've missed? any reccomendations on how to further research this?

scottw · Post by **scottw** » Mon Aug 29, 2005 9:30 pm

Elephant--from Saen-Sans Carnival of the Animals

bort · Post by **bort** » Mon Aug 29, 2005 9:43 pm

A very large bumble bee (a la Chuck Dallenbach).

Tom Holtz · Post by **Tom Holtz** » Mon Aug 29, 2005 10:24 pm

Otis from Superman

Lex Luthor wrote:It's amazing that puny brain can generate enough energy to power those legs.

Technically a human, but on the evolutionary ladder, pretty low on the chain. Close enough to 'animal' for ya?

DCottrell · Post by **DCottrell** » Tue Aug 30, 2005 7:39 am

What about Bydlo? Cart drawn by oxen. Certainly the feeling of the solo is all about the animals' plodding in the mud.

Carroll · Post by **Carroll** » Tue Aug 30, 2005 9:25 am

The donkey in "Don Quixote" by tenor tuba (euphonium)

Joe Baker · Post by **Joe Baker** » Tue Aug 30, 2005 10:33 am

_______________________________________
Joe Baker, who observes that movie scores and tubas are contemporaries in music literature.

bort · Post by **bort** » Tue Aug 30, 2005 10:51 am

Good point about movie scores - that reminded me of the tuba solo in Close Encounters (the "voice" of the Mothership).

TubaRay · Post by **TubaRay** » Tue Aug 30, 2005 10:53 am

Les Smith wrote:H. Kling, "Elephant and the Fly."

Also "The Elephant and the Flea." Yes, there is such a piece. I have performed it, and "The Elephant and the Fly." I have been part of such high level solo performances. I'm sure every tuba player is envious. LOL

Dylan King · Post by **Dylan King** » Tue Aug 30, 2005 10:56 am

T. J. Ricer · Post by **T. J. Ricer** » Tue Aug 30, 2005 11:53 am

It hasn't stayed in the regular repertoire, but in 1973 Harold Oliver wrote a piece for tuba and percussion called the Kraken (which is the sea monster from Greek mythology, you may remember it if you saw "Clash of the Titans", the monster that is, not the piece).

And now for a shameless plug. . . I'll be performing the Kraken at my graduate recital at the University of Tennessee on Sept. 10 at 6pm. PM me if you'd like more info.

--T. J.

Dean E · Post by **Dean E** » Tue Aug 30, 2005 1:29 pm

DCottrell wrote:What about Bydlo? Cart drawn by oxen. Certainly the feeling of the solo is all about the animals' plodding in the mud.

Oh. I think of wooden axles and wheel hubs squealing and squeaking, in G#, from lack of grease.

Don't forget:

"Teddy Bears' Picnic,"

Jim Self announcing the aliens' arrival in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," and

"Ride of the Valkyries," the goddesses who served Odin in selecting warriors to be slain.

Biggs · Post by **Biggs** » Tue Aug 30, 2005 3:23 pm

Elegy for the Whale
Cetacea
The Boa Constrictor and The Bobolink (probably the most accurate instrument/animal matchup)

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Tue Aug 30, 2005 8:30 pm

wnazzaro wrote:I think of Jaws as 'cellos and horns. Is there really a big tuba component to the depiction of the shark?

Read this, http://www.tubanews.com/articles/contentid-74.html, and you might change your mind about the French Horns.

ThomasDodd · Post by **ThomasDodd** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 11:00 am

bort wrote:Good point about movie scores - that reminded me of the tuba solo in Close Encounters (the "voice" of the Mothership).

Not sure if that would count as a monster though. Monsterous in size though.

Rick Denney · Post by **Rick Denney** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 11:08 am

For some reason, elephants are a common theme. I wonder why?

Here's another elephant for your list: Jumbo the Elephant theme in the musical "Barnum!". It's in the middle of the tune sung by Tom Thumb, and it's THE reason I played that musical on the Holton instead of something smaller. The theme is shared with the trombone.

Rick "seeing a rare opportunity where it's okay to play loud for the sake of being loud" Denney

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