Band/Orchestra

[Chadtuba]

I prefer bands, but mostly because I've never done any orchestral playing. The college I went to didn't have an orchestral program so never had that opportunity. I also like band music especially once it gets into the grade IV and V stuff.

[iiipopes]

Yes, indeed. Thinking of a few friends, you should have "both" as an option. I don't need it, but they do.

[Wyvern]

I prefer orchestral playing because of the generally higher quality of music and the fact that the tuba is a solo instrument with frequently a soloistic part. If it is a good piece for tuba (e.g. Mahler, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Elgar, Bruckner, Tchaikovsky, etc.), playing with a good orchestra, then I get a real adrenalin thrill like nothing else!

That is not to say I do not like band playing - but the bass part can often by boring, one is usually in a section (rather than solo) and I usually find the experience merely enjoyable, rather than thrilling.

I do not mind having less to play in the orchestra. It means when the tuba does come in, it is more appreciated and every note counts

Jonathan "who enjoys listening to the orchestra in the rests"

[Tom Beck II]

Hi Matthias,
Too bad you didn't include brass ensemble in your survey. It's kind of like only polling for Republicans or Democrats.
Playing in a brass ensemble has it tons over either band or orchestra for styles, techiques, intonation, balance, blend, feature and solo sections, less rest measures to count, all those things tuba players really want and should be able to do playing in treble clef predominant societies like band or orchestra.
However, following your structure, band does give less rests but more cogs in the tuba section while in orchestra, you're the only person the director has to count on producing the sounds of the tuba part.
Hmm. Interesting that question really doesn't have an either/or answer.

[jonesbrass]

I like orchestral playing because you get to sink or swim by yourself - not 4 to 8 others. Same reason why I like brass quintet and other chamber music ensembles.
I chose band, though, because I'm not a particular fan of counting rests or sitting there without anything to do. Especially when there isn't a tuba part at all!!

[windshieldbug]

Orchestra, without a doubt. Long periods of slackness puctuated by moments of sheer terror. But, there is no better seat in the house!

[Kevin Hendrick]

Yes, indeed. Thinking of a few friends, you should have "both" as an option. I don't need it, but they do.

Hey, I resemble that remark! I would have chosen "both", had it been an option ... "both plus" would have worked even better. I'm currently playing in several concert bands (of varying sizes) and a German band, and will be "sitting-in" with our local youth orchestra and tuba-euph ensemble for the remainder of the season. The mix of different styles (and techniques) keeps things interesting, and they do seem to "cross-feed" (i.e., something learned in one group turns out to be useful in the others as well). It takes a bit of schedule juggling to fit them all in (on top of working full time), but it can be done, and (I think) is worth doing.

Jonathan "who enjoys listening to the orchestra in the rests"

Orchestra, without a doubt. Long periods of slackness puctuated by moments of sheer terror. But, there is no better seat in the house!

... and you're either getting it for free or they're paying you to be there! Can't beat that.

[Wyvern]

I do not know whether I am getting my feelings about this down in any sort of comprehensible way.

It makes sense to me - Very well expressed!

[Wyvern]

you're either getting it for free or they're paying you to be there! Can't beat that.

I think you have got to love the sound of the symphony orchestra and the sort of music performed to want to play tuba in an orchestra.

If you are there just for the playing, then you are going to be bored and are better off in a band.

Jonathan "who also mostly listens to orchestral CDs"

[Kevin Hendrick]

I think you have got to love the sound of the symphony orchestra and the sort of music performed to want to play tuba in an orchestra.

If you are there just for the playing, then you are going to be bored and are better off in a band.

Indeed -- well said.

[tubaguy9]

As everyone else has said (sort of) Orchestra by far. Sure, band is fun, if you're playing the right pieces, but it just doesn't have the same effect, either. Take a work of music, such as The Planets, or Brahms, and it has nowhere near the effect in a band as an orchestra. You play "Mars" arranged for band, (in a good level band] and it's sort of a "shoulder shrugger", but if you play it in orchestra, (in a decent level orchestra) and it can be chilling. It doesn't sound simmilar at all. And there's not any simmilar effect.

[TonyZ]

The wind band lacks what is probably the most tonally expressive families in its overall sound. I like to play in band a LOT, but do not like to listen to it for very long because of this lack of tonal variety. The orchestra presents a more diverse and variegated palette of sound to the listener.

Depends on the composer to be sure. Some very fine wind band music out there that most people will not play or hear because it doesn't fit the commercial mold that publishers require...sorry for the rant, but I'm still hyped up on turkey and bourbon!


TZ

[Biggs]

As everyone else has said (sort of) Orchestra by far. Sure, band is fun, if you're playing the right pieces, but it just doesn't have the same effect, either. Take a work of music, such as The Planets, or Brahms, and it has nowhere near the effect in a band as an orchestra. You play "Mars" arranged for band, (in a good level band] and it's sort of a "shoulder shrugger", but if you play it in orchestra, (in a decent level orchestra) and it can be chilling. It doesn't sound simmilar at all. And there's not any simmilar effect.

Holst himself arranged The Planets for band. I recently heard an excellent symphonic band perform Holst's arrangement of Mars and found it equally as satisfying as the orchestral version, if not more so. That being said, I doubt Venus, Saturn, Uranus, or Neptune would apply to a band setting, even with Holst doing the arranging.

[Wyvern]

Holst himself arranged The Planets for band.

I never knew that!

The trouble is, however good the arrangement, it just cannot have the variety of tone color. As "Elephant" well describes, a key element of the sound is missing.

An old bandsman well described it to me as;

A brass band is like a black and white picture,
A military band is like a colored picture,
While an orchestra is the real thing.

I think that well describes any band arrangements of the classics.

[lgb&dtuba]

I think you have got to love the sound of the symphony orchestra and the sort of music performed to want to play tuba in an orchestra.

If you are there just for the playing, then you are going to be bored and are better off in a band.

Indeed -- well said.

The question was whether you preferred to play in a band or orchestra, not which had the better overall sound.

As a tuba player, why would you prefer an orchestra given that you're not going to play very much opposed to a band of some type? Just to have a ringside seat? It sounds better out front anyway.

It can't be for the audience feedback. Polite golf claps as orchestrated as the works being played don't cut it for me. In this country, at least, even the applause for an encore is expected and automatic - no matter what or how well the orchestra has been playing.

If it's to play classical music, then I submit that playing in a brass quintet would give you, the tuba player, much more to do, not to mention be more challenging. You'd get more recognition and respect for your abilities as well since your part would actually be exposed. More solos, etc.

It amazes me how the most discussion on this forum about the need for and the purchasing of the most expensive and biggest tubas is by those playing in orchestras - where you'll actually play less and be heard less than bands. While those of us playing in bands of some kind seem to play whatever beaters we can afford that get the job done.

Maybe all that idle time in orchestras causes tuba players to compete for biggest and most expensive to compensate for their low place in the orchestra pecking order? After all, if you play a very large expensive tuba what you are doing must be correspondingly important, right? (Hint - check out what the violin players paid for their instruments.)

I'm really just poking a little guys. If playing in an orchestra turns you on, then by all means go for it.

Just be aware that not everyone thinks that playing tuba in an orchestra is the be all end all for a tuba player.

[windshieldbug]

Who wants to have to sit in a group where half of the musicians are stuck uppity string players?

'cause they don't get half your jokes, while the trombone section is roaring with laughter, that's why!

[tubatooter1940]

No legit band or orchestra would have me or my beat up peashooter Eb tuba, but going through a huge p.a. with a duo up to a sextet playing trop rock music to beach bunnies in bikinis keeps me really busy and can be rewarding in a totally different way.

[MaryAnn]

On tuba...most fun I've had is in quintet and a pops orchestra. The tuba parts in pops music are great, you play all the time, and you're still the only tuba. When I've played tuba in a symphonic orchestra, it has been kind of boring a lot of the time.

Now, on horn....hands down, symphonic orchestra. Not pops orchestra, certainly not band. Quintet is also great. Concert band can be ok IF it is decent music; I'm lucky to be playing in such a group now. But it doesn't have the tonal variety that a GOOD orchestra would have. (Good meaning the strings can find the pitch.) Well, ok, if the strings can't find the pitch, there is a LOT of tonal variety, but it is not of the good kind.

When I revert to being an uppity string player, I just HATE playing in an orchestra (which is why I gave it up and went to brasses) but once again, chamber music is a lot of fun. As is bluegrass.

MA

[SplatterTone]

Summit Brass did a transcription of Mars by Ralph Sauer on their CD Paving The Way.
http://tinyurl.com/24y83j

[MikeMason]

I have to go with orchestra as well.Being individually held to a high standard at risk of being fired is a thrill.My own standards for my playing is even higher usually because the conductor's attention is usually on the strings.I also like being paid,which I seldom have for band gigs(once a year 4th of July at a big church).Being paid also helps justify those expensive horns,which are simply more satisfying to play.Being paid usually means better conductors and better musicians to play with,which is a big part of the fun and satisfaction.Just some thoughts...