Band Piece with Tuba Solo

[THE TUBA]

There is a sweet tuba part in Malcolm Arnold's Suite of English Dances, set 2. A new song with a tuba solo is Terpiscore (sp) by Bob Margioles (sp). It is grade 6, with hard tuba parts all around. You used to be able to download a pdf of it at the Manhattan Beach music site. The solo is optional octave higher or octave lower, although it is only a measure or two long. You get to "play as loud as possible," "like an elephant in a tutu," "fffff," etc. There is another solo near the end, but this one you cannot change octaves on.

A cool Christmas song with a tuba solo is Fantasia for a King. I don't quite remember the composer, but the song contains variations on "Good King Wen...e. .s" (sp). I think this song is a grade 4.

[craigpotter]

Fantasy on La Golondrina by Donald Grantham - the whole middle section is basically tuba solo with trumpet playing along. Maybe a little harder than grade 3-4, but a cool piece nevertheless

[ThomasDodd]

P.S. Here is a link to the webpage of the USAF Band of the West with downloadable MP3's of several tunes including the Happy Farmer and Colonial Airs and dances. http://www.lackland.af.mil/bow/audio/heritage.html

I also just found a link on this page for an MP3 of Pat Sheridan playing the James Barnes Concerto.... and a recording of Holsinger's KC Dances for Tuba and Wind Ensemble . If you Haven't checked it out already you need to. Why don't all of the service bands do this?

Damn. I went to download a few of those again and it's no longer there.
And the current Band of the West site doesn't have them either.

Now to find the CD I saved them on.

[Steve Oberheu]

Concertino for Tuba and Band by Frank Bencriscutto. Not as well-known as some others, but a good piece.

[gionvil]

Concerto Grosso for Tubas and band by Vaclav Nelhybel, it features the whole tuba section.

[Norwintuba12]

there are two great pieces with small solos in them that I know of other than the others listed

Thanksgiving- this is a great tune with an alright small solo in it
Bayou Breakdown- This is just a blast piece to play with 2 solos in it

[fenne1ca]

Concertino for Tuba and Band by Frank Bencriscutto. Not as well-known as some others, but a good piece.

Seconded! I played this on my recital last spring (and for my jury), and it's a ton of fun. Two fo my favorite cadenzas.

I would also recommend Beelzebub (A. Catozzi) as a good band-accompanied piece. Definitely one of the more accessible pieces you'll find. Easy for audience to comprehend, fun to play, and the band part is definitely pretty simple.

[Jedi Master]

O mio babbino caro, from Gianni Schicchi?

Yes, it's gorgeous in the tuba voice, we just played it with my high school wind ensemble

Here is an arrangement of "O mio babbino caro" for tuba solo, within a brass quintet setting: http://www.brassworks4.com/store/ecom-p ... -1799.html" target="_blank"
You can hear a recording of it at the website, too.

[tubahero300]

tubby the tuba

[DWEldred92]

I'm looking for a band piece for a high school that features a pretty good tuba solo. I'm thinking grade 3 or 4. Any help would be great.

Will

Emperata Overture

My first solo ever!!! We played that my freshman year.... sophomore...junior... and senior.

[tubahero300]

i played emperata in eighth grade and i still remember how to play it, i love that piece

[1895King]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the finale to "Fantasia on the Dargason" from Holst's 2nd Suite in F. It can be a killer, but the last time our old community band played it, I was the only one to end up with the conductor. But then, maybe I'm too old for some of you as that was over 25 years ago.

[Arkietuba]

Daugherty's Raise the Roof

While that is a cool tuba part, it's a timpani solo piece (and difficult at that) so if you had a bad-a timpani player it'd be doable.

[Todd S. Malicoate]

Daugherty's Raise the Roof
Barnes Symphony 3
Holst 2nd Suite
Ewazen Hymn to the Lost and Living (Pedal BBbs exposed)
Band transcription of Sensemaya
Ticheli's Playing with Fire
Persichetti Symphony for Band

I'm looking for a band piece for a high school that features a pretty good tuba solo. I'm thinking grade 3 or 4.

Swing and a miss, except perhaps for the Holst. And I daresay that doesn't "feature a pretty good tuba solo."

I'll put in a vote for Paul Creston's "Celebration Overture." It's listed as a Grade 6, but I suspect that's for the extended chromaticism and a few range issues. It's not that difficult, as our very average community band was able to pull it off pretty well a couple of years ago.

[ScottM]

Jetty Brubaker, who was one of the arrangers for the one of the service bands, did a fun arrangement featuring the tuba section called Tiptoe Through the Tubas. It is an series of arrangements of Tiptoe Through the Tulips .
Played it at the ACB conference last year and it was a good fun piece.
Scott M

[Arkietuba]

Flowermound Marcus high school did this...

Lots of high schools do lots of difficult literature and make it through the piece without a major meltdown but that doesn't mean it should be played by all high schools (especially if you have to hire a timpani soloist just to play it)

[phatty77]

Here's my two cents (I don't think I saw these pieces yet and should really be considered in my opinion):

Persichetti-Divertimento.
Vaughan Williams-Toccata Marziale
Grainger-take your pick
Jack Stamp-again take your pick