Thoughts on 'Circus Polka'
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Arkietuba
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Thoughts on 'Circus Polka'
Our Wind Ensemble is playing the Circus Polka by Stravinsky as well as two Karel Husa pieces (with Karel Husa receiving an honorary doctorate at the performance)...and I want to know what others think. I don't know if it was the fact that no one in the ensemble practiced very much (or at all)...but, it didn't seem like a polka or fit the 'circus' style. Also...the tuba part is fairly difficult (especially the first measure) and I've never heard any of my professors or any guest artists or anyone one on the board talk about it...it seems like it would be a famous tuba piece since the part is hard and the tubas and euphoniums get the melody a few times (since it's a polka and it was written for a young elephant).
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WoodSheddin
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Allen
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My band (Charles River Wind Ensemble) recently played this piece at a concert. It is a real challenge to read, as it uses keys not familiar to band players (E, F#), double sharps, and intricate rhythms. However, with some practice, you will discover that the note patterns are not too difficult. Everyone MUST count and make their entrances right at the correct times!
I was struck at the extreme contrast between the first read-through and the finished product. It's a fantastic piece, and a lot of fun both for the players and the audience!
The hardest thing for me was the low E (four ledger lines down) staccato eighth notes. They had to be short, crisp and loud. I wound up playing them as false tones (for less resonance and quicker speaking), even though my CC tuba's regular low E is ordinarily fine. If you can't get the low E to speak quickly, just play the E one ledger line down, especially the last one (the percussion will cover you fff).
Cheers,
Allen Walker
I was struck at the extreme contrast between the first read-through and the finished product. It's a fantastic piece, and a lot of fun both for the players and the audience!
The hardest thing for me was the low E (four ledger lines down) staccato eighth notes. They had to be short, crisp and loud. I wound up playing them as false tones (for less resonance and quicker speaking), even though my CC tuba's regular low E is ordinarily fine. If you can't get the low E to speak quickly, just play the E one ledger line down, especially the last one (the percussion will cover you fff).
Cheers,
Allen Walker
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sc_curtis
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Allen
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I was wondering if anyone had played this piece with the "Hammond Organ" that is called for in the original score. Given the composition date (the early nineteen-forties), the appropriate instrument would be a Hammond B3 model.
I remember the Hammond-supplemented circus bands from that era; it was a unique sound very full. [Of course, we know the reason: One musician playing a Hammond with a thousand watts of amplification could replace many wind musicians!]
When my group played the piece, we only had a synthesizer keyboard with an "organ" sound -- no pedals, and nothing like the good old B3.
Cheers,
Allen Walker
I remember the Hammond-supplemented circus bands from that era; it was a unique sound very full. [Of course, we know the reason: One musician playing a Hammond with a thousand watts of amplification could replace many wind musicians!]
When my group played the piece, we only had a synthesizer keyboard with an "organ" sound -- no pedals, and nothing like the good old B3.
Cheers,
Allen Walker