Your favorite Tuba/Euph Solo Music

[UTTuba_09]

I was just curious on what kind of music that you personally like to perform. Do you like to perform classical solos taken from other solo instruments from the time, or do you like to perform more modern sounding works such as Hindemith, or do you like to perform works like the Vaughan-Williams?

[windshieldbug]

While I could still perform at that level, it was whatever the Music Director programmed, be it Tubby the Tuba for children's concerts, or Lyric Piece and Rondo for Tuba and String Orchestra by Sam Dennison.

[Sean Greene]

Hi Eric,
More and more, the types of solo pieces I enjoy playing fit into one of four categories:
1. I find satisfaction in learning new, fun things that will help develop some aspect of my own performing. Most of the time these are works I have heard other people play.
2. Standards I have played or heard many times that I can challenge myself to approach in new ways.
3. Works that I want to work up because I want to expose my students/audience to techniques/genres that are unfamiliar to them (but I expect they will enjoy). Hopefully, my students will be motivated to seek out some of this music and learn how to play it.
4. Those which pay the bills. Can I get an 'amen'?

On the Hindemith Sonate: when I first started working on it when I was 19, I really didn't get it. I was so new to the whole concept of art(ahem) music and how to really work up a piece, it was slow to grow on me. Now it's one of my favorite pieces. It has the capacity for a tremendous amount of emotion, sensitivity and power.
I really enjoy playing Koetsier's solos because his writing can be so gosh-darned silly. Schubert's art songs are fun because the melodies are so flawless. Theme and variations (ie: Clarke, Pryor, Arban) are great for developing technique and showmanship. I also enjoy jazz improvisation.
The JS Bach cello suites are probably the most satisfying thing for me to perform just because, for me, they require the highest level of concentration and sensitivity to musical structure and line. They are a complete butt-whuppin'.

Of course, my all-time favorite music to perform is the kind that comes with a paycheck.

Good luck at UT.
Sean Greene, Class of '98

[dwerden]

There are so many good choices!!!

I really like the Bruce Broughton Sonata (anyone know if that is still available)? I heard Tommy Johnson play the previer in 1978 and it was a breath of fresh air!

The Gregson Concerto is nice, too. (It has a little "tip of the hat" to the Vaughan-Williams Concerto within its melodies).

HOWEVER, since this category subject mentioned both euphonium and tuba, my best choice might be Morning Song by Roger Kellaway. It was written for Roger Bobo, and it's a tough go for tuba players (one high A and one high B-flat). But it's a great euphonium piece! I find in my teaching that many tuba players don't know about this piece. If you haven't heard it, I have an MP3 download of Roger Bobo playing it on my forum, but you have to be a member (totally free) to see the Tuba/Euphonium -> Downloads for Members Only section. He plays the daylights out of it! This recording is from a live performance during a U.S. Coast Guard Band concert, and the terrific piano accompaniment was played by band member Gary Chapman. By the way, it is a wonderful choice to program if you have a really good pianist performing with you.
http://www.dwerden.com/talk/forum/

[tubafatness]

For some reason, I take pleasure from (trying) to learn the hardestr solos in the repertoire. Case in point, I'm trying to learn both the Penderecki Cappricio and the Kraft Encounters II, at the same time, on a Rudy Meinl 5/4 CC tuba. But, any solo that's fun to play, and sounds good, is good.

[tubatooter1940]

My favorite is the next one I am working up.

[NickJones]

Philip Sparke - Concertino for Tuba
Rodney Newton - Cappricio
Fantasia on a China Theme - Gary Carpenter
Leningrad - Martin Ellerby
RVW - Concerto in F Minor
Torn Eriks Song arr Ray Farr
BloodAxe Lament - Torstien Aagaard Nilsen

for Euph
Pantomime - Philip Sparke
Beautiful Colorado -
Endering Young Charms arr Stanley Boddington
Greek Dance from Concerto - Philip Wilby
Concerto For Euphonium - John Golland

[patentnonsense]

Haydn Trumpet Concerto -16

[tubaguy9]

For some reason, I take pleasure from (trying) to learn the hardestr solos in the repertoire. Case in point, I'm trying to learn both the Penderecki Cappricio and the Kraft Encounters II, at the same time, on a Rudy Meinl 5/4 CC tuba. But, any solo that's fun to play, and sounds good, is good.

Man, I love listening to Encounters II. I heard Bobo's recording of it, and it sounds so cool. If I had the range, I'd try to do that solo, but I probably wouldn't make it sound that great...

[Brassworks 4]

My fav:

Hovhaness Concerto No. 3 "Diran" with Strings

Very beautiful piece for euphonium....