euphonium w/ orchestra

[trop2000]

Hi all,

I'm looking for your opinions of euph w/ orchestra literature. Looking for opinions on tubenet can occasionally be a dangerous thing, but I stand ready.

(The following scenario has never actually occured, but one hopes it might someday ...)

Let's say a pretty darned good orchestra called out of the blue and said "we want you to do a solo piece with the orchestra next season". It could be a concerto, part of a concerto, a stand alone solo piece. It could be originally for euph, or not.

I'm really not sure WHAT I would propose. I'd want something serious but listenable ... at least 10 minutes and preferably 12-15. If I were to suggest something like the Linkola concerto which I like very much, I'm pretty sure I'd be told TOO LONG, pick something else.

I haven't kept up on every new euph concerto out there, and that's a main reason why I pose this question. A lot of the repertoire I try out feels silly or wishy washy (now I'm really in for it) or it's so serious that I just don't think it would accomplish what I want. I'm looking for that "perfect" piece ... challenging for the soloist, serious without being a squeak-fart piece, interesting to the audience, and something that above all makes people say "I didn't know the euphonium could do that and I'd like to hear more". Something the local newspaper would enjoy reviewing. Something intriguing and compelling that puts forth the euphonium as the great solo voice that it is without being intentionally snooty.

Dear reader ... I ask, what in your view, is this "perfect" piece?

Thank you!
Matt

[leedummer]

Symphony 29 Hovahness

[Rick F]

Matt,

What about James Curnow's "Symphonic Variants"? Maybe too long, but a great piece. One of Demondrae Thurman's students, Matthew Mireles, did this with orchestra a couple of years ago when he was working on his master's. I think it's still on YouTube.

Found it...
Matthew Mireles- Symphonic Variants (Part 1)
...try to ignore the flat trumpet

[Ian Stewart]

serious without being a squeak-fart piece

What a wonderful description, my wife is still laughing at that - she doesn't like that style of music either!

[prototypedenNIS]

Matt,

What about James Curnow's "Symphonic Variants"? Maybe too long, but a great piece. One of Demondrae Thurman's students, Matthew Mireles, did this with orchestra a couple of years ago when he was working on his master's. I think it's still on YouTube.

Found it...
Matthew Mireles- Symphonic Variants (Part 1)
...try to ignore the flat trumpet

I spent many wasted hours working on multiphonics so I could do that piece. That is a beast! If you can play it, it's great. I couldn't. I still can't... yet

[Rick F]

Hi DenNIS,

I can't do it either, but I'm sure Matt can. On his "Continuum" CD, he plays 'Ancient Native Air' — where he uses it very effectively. In fact, better than most that I've heard. This example actually sounds musical...

Ancient Native Air - excerpt

[The Impaler]

Matt,

The Cosma is always a winner. And it's absolutely beautiful with orchestra. On the downside, it is a full 20-22 minutes long. But, on the up-and-up, you can always just do the second and third movements. I think it really hits all the areas you're looking for. Best of luck - I hope you get that call!!!

[AndyCat]

A colleague over here has done the Horovitz with Orchestra, and there's the Karl Jenkins and Philip Wilby concertos too.

[Tuba Guy]

You can always play the Vaughan Williams (up an octave if so desired).

[druby]

Matt,

The Horovitz Concerto has been performed with orchestra (conducted by JH himself with Steve Mead) so arrangements must be available. Allen Feinstein wrote his Concerto for Euphonium:Swimming the Mountain for orchestra and euphonium. Also, the Karl Jenkins' Euphonium Concerto has been performed with orchestra and euphonium.

By the way, have you met Robert Gottschalk there in Stockton yet? He is a fine euphonium player from Univ. of Mich, runs a music store just down the street from UOP and was my teacher from 1963-1969.

Doug Ruby

[KiwiTuba]

You could always try the Kenneth Young concerto. I liked it as a piece of music when it was premiered at ITEC back in 2004.

(I'm biased though -he was my teacher)

[trop2000]

Hi all,

Thanks for your responses! There are some pieces mentioned here that I do not know ... exactly what I was hoping for. I will now attempt to steal my wife's credit card and buy some of these.
Matt

[tjonp]

I think the Curnow Symphonic Variants is perfect for what Matt's describing. It has optional cuts that can shorten it if it's too long.

The multiphonics in the Curnow are HARD, and don't add that much to the musical product, IMHO. In contrast, "Ancient Native Air"'s multiphonics are easier to play, and the movement makes no sense without them.

I would second the Cosma, if it wasn't so long. Some find it a bit superficial, but I LOVE it.

[Primusbot05]

FYI... the Continuum CD is Matt Tropman... not Matt Mireles... Both, though... are pretty BA.

Just sayin...

[imperialbari]

Isn’t it so that the Horovitz concerto also was issued as a very similar concerto for bassoon and strings? Wasn’t it that version Glenn Call performed with the DC Marine Strings?

Klaus

[LARSONTUBA]

There's a fantastic concerto by Bert Appermont called Cantiphonia. There are three movements entitled 1. Contrasti 2. Romanza 3. Fugato

Time-wise you are looking at 21 minutes or so, but I think the movements could stand alone just as well as the first or third movements of Cosma or Linkola do. The first movement is especially showy with lots of slurring stuff, jazzy rhythms, and exposed arpeggio-like rangey things.

There is a fantastic performance of it with the Swiss Army Wind Band featuring Ueli Kipfer as the soloist. It is available on iTunes. His playing is quite beautiful on it! I have also seen it with Orchestra when he performed it with Pershing's Own orchestra at the USABTEC in 2006.

Hope this helps, too. It is a beautiful piece. I, personally, think it is one of the more beautiful and interesting pieces for euphonium.