Low Register Orchestral Excerpts

[Mark]

When I think of orchestral parts that require a good low register, I think of the Ride and Fountains first.

What other works have parts requiring a good low register?

[Onebaplayer]

Prokofiev.. I'd list the pieces but basically all of them..

[Chuck Jackson]

Tuba part to Shostakovich a minor Violin Concerto. First note the tuba plays in the Nocturne is a sustained pedal D that you have to move off of, preferably without a breath. The Passacaglia Movement is virtually a tuba solo prior to the violin entrance. The most intersting part of the piece is it's orchestration: the only brass are 4 horns and tuba. (Previn, RPO, with Victoria Mullovna is the best recording IMHO, spectacular tuba playing)

I haven't seen mention of the "Entry of the Gods into Valhalla". It's actually a great warm-up if done mf with lots of breaths. Moves in and out of the low register.

Prokofiev 5,6, and 7 have some enormous tuba parts, most of which are low, sustained, or low, short and loud. The entrance in the first movement of Prokofiev 6 is a great test of your ability to play very low, soft, and short. Gotta love the Bb to pedal EEb. The first movement of Prokofievs 7th has, among other lines down to pedal D, a pedal CC# for 8 beats that starts the recap. The 2nd movement has a bunch of pedal D's and D#'s. (Try to find the Previn LAPO recordings. Bobo sounds great, although I pefer the Szell/Cleveland 5th)

I have seen the part to Glazanov's 5th symphony, it has some rocking pedal EEb's in the first few bars.

I am sure there are others.

Chuck

[THE TUBA]

Hindemith- Symphonic Metamorphosis
Holst-The Planets

[ZNC Dandy]

Prokofiev: Ivan the Terrible- Specifically the 2nd tuba part. Low, loud, and fast. Check out the Philharmonia/Jarvi or the London Symphony/Rostropovich.

John Adams: Harmonielehre- Mess of low stuff. 2nd part has a low Eb at the end at fff for close to 20 bars. You will pass out after playing this piece. Check out the San Francisco/de Waart.

Prokofiev: Symphony No.2- The low brass fanfare about 4:20 into the first movement is quite possibly the loudest you will ever be called upon to play in an orchestra. Check out the Scottish National/Jarvi or Russian State Symphony Orchestra/Polyansky.

Norgaard: Symphony No.6- Have fun. This piece was written for Jens Bjorn-Larsen if that tells you anything. It be hard. Danish National Radio Symphony/Dausgaard.

[Wyvern]

The storm section of Strauss Alpine Symphony is another good one.

[jeopardymaster]

Britten's Sinfonia da Requiem has some wicked low exposed stuff. Re Harmonielehre, I thought surely that must be a 2-tuba piece. Not so? Oy.

If you ever have the opportunity/misfortune to play any of Philip Glass' Koyaanisqatsi, have a spare oxygen tank handy.

Less esoteric, that lick at the end of Jupiter (Planets) will take you out if you aren't prepared.

[Dean E]

. . . . If you ever have the opportunity/misfortune to play any of Philip Glass' Koyaanisqatsi, have a spare oxygen tank handy.

The formerly rare video is now on DVD and is quite an experience to watch--and hear.

[MileMarkerZero]

If you ever have the opportunity/misfortune to play any of Philip Glass' Koyaanisqatsi, have a spare oxygen tank handy.

Wasn't aware of a tuba part in Koyaanisqatsi???

[ZNC Dandy]

Re Harmonielehre, I thought surely that must be a 2-tuba piece. Not so? Oy.

There are 2 tuba parts. I wasn't very clear in my post.

[RyanSchultz]

Prokofiev.. I'd list the pieces but basically all of them..

Absolutely! Especially the ballets! R + J has low Ds and Cinderella has a ton of low playing.

[Mark]

I think I see a trend here. Have you noticed in reading through this thread that a lot of the works mentioned are:

1) Russian

2) Still under copyright.

[jeopardymaster]

Re Koyaanisqatsi, I think the original recording features Warren Deck and Sam Pilafian each blasting their respective, um, "packages" off. Incredible playing.

Re the Adams, ZNC, I'm the one who misread "2nd part" as referring to the second movement. After I posted earlier, I reread your original note and then felt like a fool. Apologies. FWIW, that is a tremendous piece if anyone hasn't heard it - start with the 3rd movement, then listen to all of it.

But yeah, a there is lot of Russian stuff on this list. Two more are Rachmaninoff's Second Symphony and The Bells. Considerably easier on BBb than on CC, which probably should tell us something - maybe we're working too hard? I dunno.

[Onebaplayer]

Sticking with the trend, There is no way Shostakovich 13 isn't low (I haven't seen the part). It has to be lower than the bass vocalist.. and bass choir.. While it is appropriately titled already 'Babi Yar', a sub title should definitely be the low symphony.

[ZNC Dandy]

The Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes has some HEAVY low stuff in it. As dos the Vaughan Williams Sea Symphony. Fun Stuff.

[Wyvern]

As dos the Vaughan Williams Sea Symphony. Fun Stuff.

Hard to believe it was originally written for F tuba, but that is all that was used in British orchestras at the time.

FWIW When I played it, I used my PT-20 4/4 CC

[ZNC Dandy]

As dos the Vaughan Williams Sea Symphony. Fun Stuff.

Hard to believe it was originally written for F tuba, but that is all that was used in British orchestras at the time.

FWIW When I played it, I used my PT-20 4/4 CC

I am continually amazed at the power, tone, and virtuosity that those players must have produced to inspire composers like Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Walton, Granville Bantock, Rutland Boughton, and the like to write the fantastic challenging parts that they did. The tradition of jaw dropping British tuba players hasn't ceased either. Must be something in the water?

[THE TUBA]

Sticking with the trend, There is no way Shostakovich 13 isn't low (I haven't seen the part). It has to be lower than the bass vocalist.. and bass choir.. While it is appropriately titled already 'Babi Yar', a sub title should definitely be the low symphony.

Shosto 13 also has a very exposed and lengthy lyrical tuba solo to begin the fourth movement. You can hear the first phrase of the solo here from this CD (which I highly recommend!).