Prokofiev 5, Why so much good tuba?

[wgcl]

So what does it mean to sound "Russian"?

[Todd S. Malicoate]

So what does it mean to sound "Russian"?

Perhaps it's like pornography...you "know it when you hear it"???

[tubashaman2]

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[Wyvern]

I think most people on hearing the music of Tchaikovsky would correctly identify him as Russian. Maybe his style is more international in character than some other Russian composers, but is that bad? The popularity of Tchaikovsky's music would indicate otherwise.

We all have our personal likes and dislikes, so James you are quite entitled to not like Tchaikovsky if you so wish. For myself, a piece I really hate is Ravel* Bolero - I will immediately switch the radio off whenever that comes on

* But at the same time I love his orchestration of Pictures

[imperialbari]

Brian, you are a man of true transparency!

My take on tuba parts of interest coming out of Russia is that this has/had to happen.

The second last czar was a brass player himself gathering civilian and military players around him. Red USSR had a widespread system of military conservatories teaching instrumental skills as well as composition for band.

The 1980 Moscow Olympic opening had a huge military band, 240 pieces, playing all original music composed for the occassion.

Of the course the music wasn’t that original, but a rerun of late Romantic concepts. Still it represented good craftsmanship.

With such a rich background pool some good tuba players had to pop up frequently enough to make it worthwhile writing for them.

Klaus