Which Bruckner Symphony Has Your Favorite Tuba Part?

[Steve Marcus]

This question is admittedly more narrow in scope than, "What is your favorite Bruckner Symphony?" Indeed, your favorite might be one of the Bruckner symphonies that has no tuba part at all.

But for the sake of this inquiry, please rank the six Bruckner symphonies that do have tuba parts in this order:

Place the Bruckner symphony with your favorite tuba part at the top of your list.

Place the Bruckner symphony with your least favorite tuba part at the bottom of your list.

Please give an explanation for your ranking.

Another way consider this topic is to ask the question, "If you had the choice to play (not just listen to) any Bruckner symphony, which one would it be and why?"

[TUbajohn20J]

No. 8 is definately my favorite..can't answer the other questions at the moment

[Wyvern]

Performance opportunities for Bruckner Symphonies tend to be rather limited in my area, so I have only played three to date, 4, 5 and 8. Of those 8 is my favourite to some extent for the opportunity to play with Wagner tuba, but also because I think it is his greatest symphony. Of the other two, I prefer the tuba part for 4, simply because the tuba does not play in the slow movement of 5, but the parts in all three symphonies are great!

For my least favourite - obviously the ones with no tuba part. 0 and 1 don't do anything for me, while 2 and 3, I still think good symphonies to listen.

I was told by a Bruckner scholar that 4 and 5 did not originally include tuba and Bruckner only added in later revisions, so we are lucky to be playing those. I wonder what made him decide to add tuba? My guess is hearing Wagner, but that is just a guess.

I hope one day to have the chance to play 7, 9 and 6 (in that order of preference)

[hbcrandy]

Bruckner 7 is my favorite, followed by the 8th.

[MartyNeilan]

I think a better title for this thread would be, "What Bruckner Symphony has the best made-up lyrics that you sing in your head?"

In my case, #7 definitely wins

[ZNC Dandy]

Getting to play any Bruckner symphony would be one of the highlights of my life, but if I had to choose, my favorite part would be 5 and 8. Those are in no particular order. The 5th is just a riot in the last movement. Check out the London Phil/Welser-Most recording for some fun!

[jtuba]

Best part - #8

Best Symphony - #6

+1

[ZNC Dandy]

Best part - #8

Best Symphony - #6

There is an amazing recording of 6 with the Bavarian State Opera Orchestra on Orfeo. Wolfgang Sawallish is the conductor. Bob Tucci sounds absolutely breathtaking. So does the rest of the orchestra. Easily sounds as good as the Stein/Vienna or Steinberg/Boston recordings.