Rutter Gloria

[jeopardymaster]

Yup - especially since, after you play it, the guys in the chorus go ---

----

HA HA!

[Rick Denney]

Wow, el, what a great situation for you - now I'm seriously jealous.

I agree the Poulenc is a flawed piece, but parts of it are magical - especially if the soprano is first-rate.

Nevsky is a blast to play, as is the VW Sea Symphony. Never did the Walton. Another tremendous opus, involving orchestra, bass soloist and a choir of bass/baritones, is Shostakovich 13. Neat tuba solo too - you get to be Stalin.

I'll have the pleasure of doing Carmina Burana in the spring, which is always a fun time. Totus floreo.

I've played the Poulenc and the Orff, but never a piece by Rutter. I would seriously enjoy the opportunity to play the Sea Symphony. I never have really liked Walton as much, though I'm not familiar with this particular choral work (at least I can't bring it to mind).

I like your description of the Poulenc. I also like the quirky balance. But it is demanding on the choir and the conductor's leadership--the instrumentalists will blow it up if there is no guiding vision to keep things in check. I played it at a church in Austin, sitting next to Don Knaub and surrounded by other working pros, and trying (with limited success) not to be hopelessly intimidated. That aspect probably biases the work in my memory in the positive direction--it's one of my few experiences of sitting among real pros in an orchestral setting.

The Orff is just great fun.

I've only heard the Rutter once, and that was about 25 years ago when San Antonio did it with the Mastersingers. Very well executed, but not I wish I could remember that opening low Bb in context. I'll have to find a recording.

I also agree with the comments that a big tuba is not necessarily a limitation in a choral work--similarly to Wade, I find the Holton to play softly better than my smaller tubas. I played it in the pit orchestra of a school-kid production of Barnum! a couple of years ago, and had no trouble getting out of the way. But everyone knew who Jumbo the Elephant was, and it wasn't the freaking trombone player. The kids loved it.

Rick "who wishes he'd had the Holton when playing the Poulenc" Denney

[Jack Denniston]

I've had the pleasure of playing the Pinkham several tiimes and I liked it a LOT! Really cool rythms and sonorities- very exciting.

[jeopardymaster]

Casting no aspersions, if I get the chance to do the Pinkham again, I promise I'll turn it down so someone else can have the thrill.

Out of curiosity, Elephant, which piece you recommended got the "wolf ticket"?

Surely not the VW Sea Symphony. I get emotional just thinking about that 4th movement, let alone singing or playing it.

[jeopardymaster]

Ah yes --- that "In the Beginning Was the Word" section is something particularly special. "Emmanuel...."God[boom] ...With[boom] ... Us" BOOOOM" --- real "Ben Hur" stuff.

Overall there is a lot of VERY dense work in it, some of it a bit, uh, scholarly, at times. If one is not a VW fan, especially of his late work, I can see how one might not go nuts over it. But, with apologies to John Fogerty, it ain't me!

[jeopardymaster]

Is the same Randy Bass who arranged Randall Thompson's "Testament of Freedom" accompaniment for brass? Not recommended, though the piece itself is quite good.

[MikeMason]

If anyone in the Montgomery,Al area would like to hear this live,Memorial Presbyterian Church is having a performance of this on 12-21-08,11am service.

[tuba kitchen]

YIPPIE! I'm playing this piece this week! (the orchestra version) along with stavinsky symphony of psalms and poulenc gloria. great brass section. the conductor is SO into the poulenc, that we have hardly rehearsed the rutter.

listen to the timpani player. the singers tend to drag the tempo down. it does not need to be "loud", but rhythmically secure and present. also try to blend in with the section, think about phrasing - then you will know how "loud" you can be...

what a great experience!

[Wyvern]

I have never had the pleasure of playing the Rutter Gloria, but I have played his Magnificat twice. That is a fun piece with plenty for the tuba. I used my Neptune both times, although I was playing with a Chamber Orchestra (of only about 35) - it just fitted the part perfectly I thought.

After one of the performances, a member of the choir came over to me and said 'I thought that enormous tuba would drown us out, but it sounded great'. As said above, a big tuba can play quietly, but still provide a solid foundation.