I'm currently looking for a new concerto to work on but it seems like the majority of Tuba Concertos "require" an F tuba... and I use that word lightly as I realize that it is completely possible for one to play the Gregson on a larger horn.
I'm am currently playing on a Miraphone 186 BBb and I thought I'd see if anyone knew of any Concertos that work on larger horns.
The Broughton Sonata/Concerto is a work that can be performed equally well on either the bass tuba or contrabass tuba, (and it's a great piece, on top of that).
John Stevens' Journey, as mentioned before, is written specifically for the contrabass tuba. It's a hoss to play, but a great work.
Aaron Hynds, DMA
Manager of Audio Operations, Indiana University Bloomington
I like to make and record sounds with metal pipes and computers.
Troy wrote:does anyone have or know of a recording of the John Stevens Journey?
You won't find one. Gene Porkony performed it with the University of Wisconsin symphony about a decade ago but there was only a "bootleg" recording available. There are no commercially available recordings of it available.
Troy wrote:I'm currently looking for a new concerto to work on but it seems like the majority of Tuba Concertos "require" an F tuba... and I use that word lightly as I realize that it is completely possible for one to play the Gregson on a larger horn.
Observe that Pokorny just played the Vaughn-Williams on a BBb tuba (the CSO York). The little snippet that's on the web sounded great; rumor has it that a complete recording will be downloadable in a few weeks. Search this forum for details.
Obviously, just because Pokorny can do it, doesn't mean that it is a good idea for others, or that everyone should even try it. But it's an existence proof.
Troy wrote:I'm currently looking for a new concerto to work on but it seems like the majority of Tuba Concertos "require" an F tuba... and I use that word lightly as I realize that it is completely possible for one to play the Gregson on a larger horn.
Observe that Pokorny just played the Vaughn-Williams on a BBb tuba (the CSO York). The little snippet that's on the web sounded great; rumor has it that a complete recording will be downloadable in a few weeks. Search this forum for details.
Obviously, just because Pokorny can do it, doesn't mean that it is a good idea for others, or that everyone should even try it. But it's an existence proof.
Almost 100% certain that the CSO york is in CC, just for clarification
sloan wrote:It seems reasonable to me that if you have run out of concertos to prepare for the contrabass tuba it's long past time for you to acquire a bass tuba.
Great point.. however the issue is mainly a monetary one when i can afford a bass i will buy one
I don't know if it bothers you that the work isn't written for the tuba, but the Grøndahl Concerto for Trombone (played an octave lower) came off very well on my CC last year. I can't imagine it being too much of a problem on BBb.
Chris Fenner
1918 Keefer Eb
191? Keefer BBb Helicon
fenne1ca wrote:I don't know if it bothers you that the work isn't written for the tuba, but the Grøndahl Concerto for Trombone (played an octave lower) came off very well on my CC last year. I can't imagine it being too much of a problem on BBb.
Not at all.. I wouldn't mind playing solos that are written for other instruments. Thanks for the input. Is this concerto written for Bass trombone or tenor? I'm assuming tenor but I've never heard it
fenne1ca wrote:I don't know if it bothers you that the work isn't written for the tuba, but the Grøndahl Concerto for Trombone (played an octave lower) came off very well on my CC last year. I can't imagine it being too much of a problem on BBb.
Not at all.. I wouldn't mind playing solos that are written for other instruments. Thanks for the input. Is this concerto written for Bass trombone or tenor? I'm assuming tenor but I've never heard it
It's a famous tenor trombone concerto that would, IMO, sound pretty bad down an octave. Too many thirds too low in the tuba range. Mud city, particularly the second movement.
Todd S. Malicoate wrote:
It's a famous tenor trombone concerto that would, IMO, sound pretty bad down an octave. Too many thirds too low in the tuba range. Mud city, particularly the second movement.
The Frackenpohl Concertino written for Abe Torchinsky (sp?) is a fine little work well suited for contrabass tuba. The second movement is quite pretty.
It's also a good work if you're playing a concerto with a less than professional orchestra.
J.c.S.
Instructor of Tuba & Euphonium, Cleveland State University
Principal Tuba, Firelands Symphony Orchestra
President, Variations in Brass http://www.jcsherman.net
