Tuba Choice--Rite of Spring

[tubashaman2]

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[Todd S. Malicoate]

Both parts are perfectly playable on C or F tubas (or even Bb or Eb). The orchestra (in terms of sheer numbers) is huge for this piece, so I doubt any conductor would begrudge a player using a larger instrument. Certainly, there aren't any "tender" moments in which a large-bore tuba would "ruin" the texture.

As we might know, 2013 is the 100 year anniversary of this wonderful piece, and I am sure some big (and regional for all I know ) orchestras are going to do a centennial performance of this piece, and I want to know what is typically done.

I hope you're correct (because I really enjoy this piece), but I doubt it. Growing budget concerns with most orchestras will preclude the programming of such grand works with over-sized forces in the orchestra. After all, it takes money to hire a couple of extra flute players (a second piccolo and an alto), a couple of extra oboe players, bass clarinet, contrabassoon, at least a couple more horn players, an extra trumpet or two, an extra tuba player, and extra percussionists. It's little surprise that this piece gets so few performances.

[tubashaman2]

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[tubashaman2]

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[Todd S. Malicoate]

This would be a gig I would do for FREE to get the big orchestral experience. I am sure, for example, if Philli did it, there are several flute and bassoon players at Curtis that are fine musicians that would love the oppourtunity to play with the orchestra, even if they do not get paid. Sometimes, we should do stuff for the sheer fun (and benefits) of it

Gee, if only the top-tier orchestras were willing to allow such folks to perform for free under their brand. Sadly, most players have to win an audition to get the "chance" you speak of.

[oedipoes]

Sometimes, we should do stuff for the sheer fun (and benefits) of it

That's what I do almost all the time.
I chose engineering studies over music, so that I could keep on playing just for fun.
That way, I don't have to worry about the profitability of my tuba and euphonium playing.
I can go to the weekly rehearsals of the local band (which is a pretty good one) and still do some other gigs that I am paid for.

Wim

[eupher61]

I was saying doing the Rite.... for free for the experience, experience pays too. All of us who do tuba christmas do it for free because of the pleasure of it. But funding additional musicians should not keep an orchestra from playing this wonderful piece....especially when several of the performers have high quality students that could benefit from the experience

A professional situation demands professional pay. PERIOD. NO EXCEPTIONS.

You take your car to a shop, the manager says "well, we have a volunteer here who we don't pay anything, and we don't have anyone available who really works here, we'll let him work on your car."

At the hospital "this is a med student who will be totally in charge of your care. She doesn't get paid, but she's a good student, and we can't afford to pay an MD to supervise her."

Offering your professional services for free not only hurts YOU, it hurts everyone. Perceived value of the service is lowered, f'rinstance.
Well, maybe the value of your service isn't high enough anyway??

[imperialbari]

It speaks for the richness of a society, when choosing tubas has become a rite of spring.

[Wyvern]

It is interesting that we all perceive that someone who is a paid 'professional' is better. Of course 99% of the time that is the case! And the fact is that those playing professionally have 'proved' themselves by winning auditions and holding down a position. But someone playing (or whatever) for the love of it, can in theory be as good. They may actually put in far more practice and might have more feel for the music as they are playing for the sheer love of it. But there has all the same got to be that separation of 'professional' and 'amateur' to protect the income of those who make a living from musical performance.

I sometimes wish I had taken up tuba playing professionally, but as things are I am probably much better off financially and can just enjoy playing a huge variety of music (probably far more than I ever would of professionally). When I get an occasional paid gig, that is just a nice extra.

'tubashaman2', I suggest you try and get a position in a GOOD community orchestra to gain experience playing music such as Rite of Spring.

Jonathan "who is as an 'amateur' playing Mahler, Bernstein, Strauss, Wagner, Scriabin, Britten and more this next week!"

[imperialbari]

40 years ago I worked somewhat with the score during college years, yet more from general musical approaches than from the point of instrumentation. Just re-read about the creation history.

Which tubas would have been played at the premiere considering year and place?

Klaus

[Gator]

I am sure, for example, if Philli did it, there are several flute and bassoon players at Curtis that are fine musicians that would love the oppourtunity to play with the orchestra, even if they do not get paid.

Nobody plays in the Philadelphia Orchestra for less than scale! All Curtis students who play in the Philadelphia Orchestra are required to join the AFM.

[Alex C]

It speaks for the richness of a society, when choosing tubas has become a rite of spring.

EXCELLENT!

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I'd play it on a French tuba in C, the instrument it was written for. The low D's snarl on a French tuba. The high Gb's are a breeze, so what's to think about?

[Alex C]

It speaks for the richness of a society, when choosing tubas has become a rite of spring.

Or maybe it's not richness but decadence. Next come the barbarians.

[TonyTuba]

This would be a gig I would do for FREE to get the big orchestral experience. I am sure, for example, if Philli did it, there are several flute and bassoon players at Curtis that are fine musicians that would love the oppourtunity to play with the orchestra, even if they do not get paid. Sometimes, we should do stuff for the sheer fun (and benefits) of it

If you want experience playing this piece, play in your school orchestra, or a summer festival. thats where you get experience. The BIG orchestras hire people to play, and not to give them experience. They are paying for their skill and professionalism. I am sure you would play for free, and you probably should, but no one in these orchestras would hire you for free. Its a job, not an experience. If you ever do get hired, and payed to play it, they would assume you already have the experience (or fake it well enough for no one to notice).

You seem you think that music should be played for fun, but you do not see that it is a career for some people, and bills do not get paid with fun. it takes money, and getting hired to play these fun gigs is how we pay our bills. I am not going to lie, when I get hired to play RoS with the local BIG orchestra, I will enjoy the heck out of it, but I will also look forward to the paycheck it comes with. And hope it is also done on a run out so I can get some per diem as well. Some people out there actually make a living doing this sort of stuff. Try not to liken it to free work because it would be fun. It is a profession, dude.

BTW, you could make an argument to play both 1st and 2nd tuba parts on F or CC, either in its entirety, or certain sections within. I have seen a top 5 orchestra perform this with two tuba players and 4 tubas, using the F tubas for the high stuff, and the CC tubas for the low stuff. if you want to make it easier, switch off. I personally have played it in CC, both parts. Chances are, if you are the extra hired to play 2nd tuba, you wont get to choose what you play it on, the Principal player in the orchestra will tell you what he wants you to play it on. And you hope he wants it all on one tube, cuz otherwise you are carrying a lot of crap to the gig.

[Amilcare]

This is really a euphonium gig as the french tuba of the time was physically smaller than a modern euphonium. That tuba players don't know this is really sad. Also, MEISTERSINGER was for an ophicleide;-)

[ginnboonmiller]

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[tubashaman2]

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[Matt G]

About the professionals being better 99% of the time.

We had a guest artist come out on an instrument I shall not name, had their DMA in performance. Our top student on that instrument WITHOUT A DOUBT (undergrad) was better than this soloist. Of course this guy is finishing his masters after 3 semesters and then begins his doctorate and has pro orchestral experience.....this undergrad was amazing and honestly better than a pro on their instrument.

Once again:

The plural of anecdote is not data.

[windshieldbug]

This would be a gig I would do for FREE to get the big orchestral experience. I am sure, for example, if Phill[y] did it, there are several flute and bassoon players at Curtis that are fine musicians that would love the oppo[u]rtunity to play with the orchestra

That's what The Curtis has a training orchestra for. Lots of people go to the concerts, not because they "know" someone involved, but because it's great music played by a great orchestra led by great conductors with enthusiasm.

Curtis students do play with the big orchestra as subs if they're good enough. But the emphasis there is changed from providing experience for the musician to providing superior art to the audience. The cost of a musician is minimal. In the grand scheme of things, only if a conductor or a soloist were to donate their services would it even make more than an unnoticeable blip.

[Tubainsauga]

Last time I saw it performed, the tubists both switched from eflat to CC during the performance.