Wagner's Rienzi Serpent vs BassTuba Part

Yane · Post by **Yane** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 8:30 am

Looking at the Basstuba and the serpent part, the serpent is mostly identical or in octaves with the tuba, save for measures 19-47 where the tuba rests, and some eigth notes (yippee!) from 197-212, where the tuba rests save for one or two bars. The Lake Murray Symphony is a community orchestra, so we don't have a contrabassoon (or even two bassoons). I had to rescue the serpent part from the percussion section where the librarian had sent it (if you don't know what it is, it must be percussion?). Looks to me like combining the parts is a good solution, and play the serpent parts pretty soft. So, how have others handled this?

quinterbourne · Post by **quinterbourne** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 10:51 am

Avoid playing non-tuba parts unless specifically asked by the music director. If he/she does ask, make sure you accept very reluctantly mentioning that tuba will provide a completely different texture than serpent or contrabassoon... a "you'll be sorry" remark would be very fitting here.

These parts are extremely difficult and unpleasant to pull off musically, they should be avoided at all costs!

Steve Inman · Post by **Steve Inman** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 10:57 am

Would a euphonium work at all?

tubeast · Post by **tubeast** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 11:01 am

Maybe, but judging from a cd I have, a sweater stuffed into the bell might come in handy.

Yane · Post by **Yane** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 6:31 pm

Your advice is about what I thought. Range-wise it's not into euphonium territory, and there wouldn't be time for horn swaps. Actually I thought a sweater in the bell and some BB's rolling around in the bottom bow would be about right ;-).

The main problem is that our conductor is in Europe; I'll get his thoughts next rehearsal. He didn't mind euphonium on Mendelsohn's 5th (back when "Tuba" meant more like "euphonium in C".