Nielsen - Symphony No. 4

[Mark]

There have been so many profoundly profound polls and surveys lately. It's time for something completely different.

[pierre]

What about a third choice - either/or (indistinguishable?)

[Thomas Maurice Booth]

For an audition I would probably play it on Bass Tuba. However, when sitting in the orchestra after I won the job I would more than likely play it on Contrabass.

TMB

[Wyvern]

I have not played this work, but looking at the part, with nothing below B just below the staff and a lot in the upper part of the staff, or above (up to D) I would take along a bass tuba to rehearsal - only up-sizing if that seemed to have insufficient weight.

[Steve Marcus]

when I saw Gene play this in St Louis he was using his newly acquired (at the time) Yorkbrunner. FWIW Big broad sound??? Yeah buddy!

Gene may not represent the typical example. He has such great control of the big horn that he plays the CSO York CC in quintet settings!

[Wyvern]

Range is not the real issue for me; it is sound color and weight.

Precisely - on initial scan it looks like a bass tuba part, so that is where I would start.

But I might change my mind at the first rehearsal on playing in context with the orchestra. Although I usually stick with my initial choice, a classic exception was Elgar 1 earlier this year. First rehearsal was on my Eb - not heavy enough. Second rehearsal I tried my PT-20 - I still wanted more weight. I ended up playing on my Neptune despite the high range of some passages.

[ZNC Dandy]

I have a DVD set of the Danish National Radio Symphony performing all 6 Nielsen Symphonies. Jens Bjorn-Larsen uses his 6/4 Hirsbrunner on all of the symphonies. Fantastic performances by the way. I recommend purchasing the set.

[ThomasP]

I actually have performed this piece with a quality orchestra recently.

Sure it looks like a "small horn" part, but I honestly felt that there was no way I could keep up if I played my F. I chose to play CC tuba. It is a very big piece and definitely not equivalent to Berlioz by any stretch of my imagination.

I felt like I couldn't keep up on my F tuba and I have one of the largest F's made, 45SLP

I chose to play it on a Willson 3050 CC

A lot of stuff is either doubled or played in unison with the Bass Trombone, I wanted to contribute and not just be an accessory to the bass trombone.

[Pete Link]

I played the piece at home and on tour with Cincinnati Symphony and used my 6/4 Nirschl. I agree that at first glance it seems a bass tuba would fit nicely. Durings those times however there is alot going on and the weightier sound fits best with the basses and bones, especially those in the Cinci Sym. Also helps to realy fill out this great work. What a joy it is to play. I did however have my F too because Symphonie Fantastique was on the other half!
I am actually doing Nielsen 2 with the Cinci folks in January and this will be on the Nirschl too.

More interesting would be the discussion of which horn to use in an audition situaition. This may be a time to get the ego out of the way and play the one which is cleaner and you sound ultimately best on. It has shown up on auditions more so recently.

I remember running the F thought by Floyd and he said "use the Nirschl!"
There was mention of his horn use on the SFSO recording and it was a 6/4 Holton CC as was his horn of choice on all of the recordings with Herbert Blomstedt. I do believe however that Peter W(do not want to butcher his last name) was the player on the Bruckner 4 and Mahler 2 as Floyd was playing in Chicago at this time. And Gene Pokornywas playing in LA.

Gene did the Nielsen acouple years or so back on the same concert of his second go around of the Stevens/Journey piece with the CSO and both pieces were played on the York, and quite beautifully.

Happy Holidays!

Pete