I just checked my Cherry Classics excerpts, this symphony is written for Alto, Tenor and Bass trombone - no ophecleide/tuba part.
When I first read your post I was pretty sure there wasn't a part, but I checked "Orchestral Music Handbook" by David Daniels. This lists the brass as 2 2 3 1, but Im sure this is one of quite a few typos in the book
Hi, I have played this work 2 or 3 times. I have a copy of the part (a reputable edition) which is a contra-fag/serpent part. Keeping in mind the sounding octave for the contra, the serpent part should play in octaves throughout with the contra. If you leave either instrument out, that important bass line in octaves part is lost. I have played this work on euphonium, later on a small Mirafone F tuba. You have to sit there for awhile, but I feel the small F tuba sound was right. The euphonium had too much presence - for me and the way I play at least. Thanks.
I have played and seen the part for Contrabassoon/serpent. I only played the part on tuba (at pitch) because the orchestra could not afford a contrabassoon player. So, that's what it's written for. Contrabassoon usually plays down one octave. But, with just a tuba it sounds ok. But then I heard the Winnipeg Symphony play the piece with a contrabassoon. Some things I liked better for each.
Having said that...sonically, I think a combination of contrabassoon and tuba for that part would sound great. Some of the larger chorale stuff just sounds better with a tuba because it's all with the brass, the more nimble stuff sounds better on a contrabassoon when it's with the woodwinds. On some parts, both at the same time would sound spectacular and certainly would not overbalance the part. But that's just my opinion.
So, that's more than just the simple answer...but what the hey!
When I first read your post I was pretty sure there wasn't a part, but I checked "Orchestral Music Handbook" by David Daniels. This lists the brass as 2 2 3 1, but Im sure this is one of quite a few typos in the book
My edition of the Daniels book shows the same entry for editions available from Breitkopf and Kalmus, but there is no separate "tuba" part...be it a tuba part or an ophecleide part. There is a contrabassoon part for sure that (as other posters have pointed out) can be done on tuba.
