euphonium in orchestral pieces

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Post by Wyvern »

There is a more complete list in "The Tuba Family" by Clifford Bevan - http://piccolopress.info/tuba_family.htm

I would suggest you reference that.
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Post by Z-Tuba Dude »

Please correct me if I am wrong, but I don't remember a euphonium being in Symphonie Fastastique, and Pictures does not "call for" a euphonium, but it is commonly substituted for the tuba, on that solo.
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Post by djwesp »

Z-Tuba Dude wrote:Please correct me if I am wrong, but I don't remember a euphonium being in Symphonie Fastastique, and Pictures does not "call for" a euphonium, but it is commonly substituted for the tuba, on that solo.

Well, if you want to get really technical Symphonie Fantastique doens't even call for a tuba.

It was ophecleides.
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Post by ufoneum »

Might also want to consider listing bass trumpet parts as well... or not... just an idea...

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Re: euphonium in orchestral pieces

Post by Matt Good »

EuphManRob wrote: * Igor Stravinsky, The Firebird (original ballet score and 1911 suite)
I have performed this work dozens of times and I do not recall any euphonium part that has been included in any orchestration.

You may want to add to your list Carl Ruggles' Sun-Treader.

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Post by dwerden »

In my Euphonium Music Guide I have almost 70 orchestral pieces listed where euphonium is often used or explicitly called for. Clicking the title of each will show you any clarification about instrumentation (such as when instrumentation is flexible but often uses euphonium, or when the part is tenor tuba, etc.), so you can cite as many as you feel are appropriate.

The Guide started out in about 1976 when Denis Winter compiled the first listing (which included about 15-20 orchestral pieces). We co-edited the next edition, and I have maintained and edited it since then. The overall size of the guide has grown to about 400% of its original size. There is a printed version available from BVD Press (a sponsor of this forum), but the online version is available to anyone.

If the information is useful, I would appreciate the Guide being credited in the article.

http://www.dwerden.com/emg/musicsearch. ... doSearch=1
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Post by Chuck(G) »

Philip Scowcroft has some interesting reading on British orchestral music and euphonium:

http://www.musicweb-international.com/c ... honium.htm
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euphonium in orchestral pieces

Post by Posaune2 »

[quote]These are some selected orchestral works that have parts commonly played on euphonium. In the score these parts may be written for a variety of instruments, including euphonium, baritone, tenor tuba, bass trumpet, or [[ophicleide]], but in performance practice a euphonium is often, if not always, used.

*Bela Bartok, ''Kossuth''
*Samuel Barber, ''Symphony no. 2''
*Hector Berlioz, ''Symphonie Fantastique'' and overtures to ''Benvenuto Cellini'' and ''Les francs-juges''
*Havergal Brian, ''Symphony no. 1 (Gothic)'' and others
*Edward Elgar, ''The Wand of Youth'' (first and second suites)
*Roy Harris, several symphonies
*Gustav Holst, ''The Planets''
*LeoÅ¡ JanáÄ
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Post by ASTuba »

Many moons ago, while in college, I did a research paper on euphonium orchestral rep. I remember there being a very good article in an older TUBA Press magazine that had a fair amount of pieces listed on that. Just a thought, and I will try to remember the name.
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Post by leedummer »

Performed euphonium on Pines of Rome offstage on this program this last season (two flugelhorns, two French horns, two euphoniums).

Program 19
Minnesota Orchestra
Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, conductor
Kathy Kienzle, harp

HAYDN: Symphony No. 6, Le Matin
DEBUSSY: Dances Sacred and Profane (for harp and orchestra)
TURINA/Frühbeck de Burgos: Theme and Variations for Harp and Strings
RESPIGHI: The Fountains of Rome
RESPIGHI: The Pines of Rome
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Post by Posaune2 »

Performed euphonium on Pines of Rome offstage on this program this last season (two flugelhorns, two French horns, two euphoniums).

Program 19
Minnesota Orchestra
Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, conductor
Kathy Kienzle, harp

HAYDN: Symphony No. 6, Le Matin
DEBUSSY: Dances Sacred and Profane (for harp and orchestra)
TURINA/Frühbeck de Burgos: Theme and Variations for Harp and Strings
RESPIGHI: The Fountains of Rome
RESPIGHI: The Pines of Rome
Frübeck was the conductor of the performance with euphoniums that I was involved in fifteen years ago or so. I don't know why he uses euphoniums, and I don't know of any other conductor that uses them.

For the purposes of the Wikapedia entry, it seems to me that limiting the list to pieces that are normally played on euph would be the best approach. If you start including things that sometimes get played on euph because of some conductor's whim, or a misreading of the score, you would even have to include things like the Mozart Requiem and Russian Easter Overture, both of which have been performed on euph in major orchestras.

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Post by Matt Good »

EuphManRob wrote:My question about the Stravinsky ballets still stands. Are you sure that it is not standard to perform those with euphonium?
No, it is not the standard. To perform these pieces on the euphonium would be abnormal.

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Post by Posaune2 »

EuphManRob wrote:Agreed, Mr. Carlson. It is not my intent to make a comprehensive catalog of everything that has ever been played on euphonium, but rather a list of major pieces that usually are played on euphonium - even if the composer specified Wagner tuba, or tenor tuba, or whatever.
If I was listing the pieces in the standard orchestral rep that normally include euphonium I would list:

Planets
Mahler 7
Pictures
Strauss: Heldenleben & Quixote

Those are the only euphonium parts I have gotten to play in the orchestra in thirty years of regular euphonium playing, with the exception of the first tuba part in Fantastique, but I don't really consider that to be a real euphonium part.

The euphonium part in Age of Gold is a great part by a well known composer, but I have never heard it performed. (There is a great recording of it with the Chicago Symphony with Glen Dodson playing the solo part) You might want to include it in your list, but it is kind of fringe repertoire.

The other things on the list seem to me to be either too obscure to warrent mention, or not really euphonium parts.

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Post by Posaune2 »

Oops - I forgot about the Janacek Sinfonietta. (I always play one of the bass trumpet parts on that piece - much more fun than the euph parts) You should probably include the Janacek in your list. It is fairly obscure, but does get played once in awhile.

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Post by Brassworks 4 »

Saint-Saens "Symphony No. 1" ??
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Post by JTJ »

EuphManRob -- there is probably not much left to point to as orchestral works which call for the euph, which is my excuse to broaden the discussion a little.

I follow the Wikipedia entry on the euphonium, and have been wondering who has been doing such good work with it in recent months. Congratulations on a terrific job.

My only criticism, and this existed before you started your edits, which have vastly improved the entry, is that it shorts the British euphonium tradition, which is part of the brass band tradition. Whereas ours grew up through the military band tradiion, alloyed with a strong dash of flavor from certain Italian-American playing styles.

A collaboration with Highams might really round out the entry. Charley has written a history of the euphonium from the British perspective for another site, and if you and he work together on this, I think the results would be terrific.

The euphonium world has two main branches in the British and American -- it would be right to do justice to both.

John
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Post by Rick F »

EuphManRob wrote:Thanks, Rick F. I just changed the link. While we're on the subject of Riki McDonnell, in another section of the article, I had stated that no euphonium player had ever achieved a career entirely as a soloist, without teaching or playing in an ensemble as well. Someone else added that Riki McDonnell had done so.

Is this true? I can't really tell from his website whether he has regular teaching or ensemble obligations. Anyone know?
Hi Rob,

That's funny. After posting that Riki's link was wrong, I went and changed it myself... making a mistake the first time. Then after it was corrected, I deleted my post. Evidently you were on line and read it within the 5 minutes it was still there :lol: .

I'm not sure what Riki does besides being a soloist. I'm pretty sure he teaches—but that may be mainly private instruction. I can tell you that he is a great guy. I had met him through email contacts years ago and then finally in person at ITEC in 2002 in Greensboro, NC. I asked him about the piece he often performs, "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" (arr. Denny) and where I could get a copy. He said to see him after his performance and he would give me his copy—which he did, piano accomp & all.

I think he is one of the best on slow melodies.
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Post by tubiker »

Yo

I forgot when this went round first time - there is a Euph part in the Henry Wood "Sea Songs" - it's usually performed at the Last Night of the Proms in the Royal Albert Hall in London. It is quite a big and prominant part. If you go to

http://www.programresourcesgroup.com/proms.html

And look at the photo, you can make out the three trombones with the Euph at the end of the line and the Tuba relegated to the choir seating :(

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