Relative FUN Level: Brahms 2nd

[Z-Tuba Dude]

Hey Guys, on a scale from 1 to 10 (1 being Mozart Magic Flute : ) and 10 being Bruckner 7), how much fun is Brahms 2nd to play?

[barry grrr-ero]

I'd say 6. I think it would be a lot more fun to be in the trumpets or trombones at the very end of the symphony. Although I'm not a huge fan of the German Requiem, it does have a great tuba. That I would give a 9.

[NeilMacQuarrie]

.

[bilmac]

It's not about the notes, it's about the music.
John Fletcher said that playing this with Karl Boehm was one of the great experiences of his life. Brahms, he said, did not need smoke and mirrors , he could charm you in his shirt sleeves. If those aren't the exact words then they're not far off --it's 40 years or so since I first read that but I never forgot it. Fletch was spot on IMO.
He was a master orchestrator was Brahms and wrote some of the best tuba parts in the repertoire. Listen to the E natural in the first movement which he introduces in a repeat of the big tune-- it transforms the whole colour of the orchestra. OK, there's not many notes but every one has a meaning, nothing is wasted. It also takes musicianship to work through the second movement and the last section of the fourth movement is one of the best things you can ever play--assuming the heavy brass play together, in tune, don't overblow etc. , you know , the easy stuff-- yeah!
I have no idea why anyone would want to sub this. It's a 10 all the way.

[finnbogi]

One of my favourite pieces.
As someone said above, the tuba part is neither particularly big nor difficult, but every note matters. And there is great music to listen to while you are not playing.
I would say 9/10.

[MikeMason]

I remember saying to myself" I will use f tuba next time". Some delicate moments in there.

[MartyNeilan]

4/10 - Have subbed it out to a student in the past. It is great music, just not for the tuba.

My feelings about Brahms in general.

[Steve Marcus]

A couple of years ago, Gene Pokorny played both the York CC and an F horn for Brahms 2. If I remember correctly, he switched horns in the middle of the Adagio (2nd movement). He used the smaller horn for the final movement. When asked, his response was in his usual self-effacing manner, "I just used the right horn at the right time."

Of course, this is a guy who can and does totally control the big CC in brass quintet, VW Concerto, etc.