Bolero Roadmap

[Mark]

If you are playing Ravel's Bolero, this might be helpful: Bolero Roadmap.

[eupher61]

It's been a while since I played it...which is the tuba entrance? That would be even more helpful for a tuba player!

[Mark]

Rehearsal 14. That is clearly marked in the part. It's what happens before that, including the cues that is not clear.

[MartyNeilan]

I have heard some trombone players sweat over the high solo in Bolero the way some tuba players fear Bydlo.

[Mark]

The trombone solo is obvious when it rolls around at Rehearsal 10, just a few measures after the principal trombone finishes vomiting. This is a good time for the tuba player to wake up and start thinking about the extremely important and challenging tuba part coming up after 250+ measures of rest.

[Three Valves]

Is this what they use in performances when the stage starts empty and fills as the number starts then goes on, and on, and on...

[Steve Marcus]

Can't blame Ravel. He hated the piece himself.

[ScottM]

In my 20th century lit class the form was defined as "AB ad nauseum"
ScottM

[eupher61]

Yeah, it's in the PART, but not in this CHART.

Heck, with this, a conductor shouldn't need a score.

[David Richoux]

Peter Schickele started many of his P.D.Q. Bach concerts with the "Hello Symphony." The musicians would gradually wander on to the stage, sit down and start playing - it takes quite a while. Usually it would finish with a trombone player making a late entrance with his horn still in the case, he would put it together and do a big circus gliss.

On the other hand, I have seen the San Francisco "Brass Band" do Bolero, starting with the tuba player at the back of the hall - he would play the bass line while climbing over every row of chairs, moving people out of the way as he made his way to the stage! Very effective, even with just a 5 piece group.

[barry grrr-ero]

I don't think it really matters exactly where you enter, as long as it's down the road where the music is loud enough - the tuba is just doubling the string basses. As for the big key change near the end, it's nearly impossible not to hear that coming a mile away. Take one listen to a recording of Bolero with your part and you probably won't need to count the thing. Maybe write in some aural cue in your part. Don't sweat it.

"Can't blame Ravel. He hated the piece himself"

My understanding was that he was just annoyed by its popularity. He allegedly said, "I've composed one masterpiece: my Bolero (not true, by the way). Unfortunately, it doesn't contain any music".

[David Richoux]

Here is a slightly different version: by Frank Zappa!

[musikfind1]

A 16 pages, ca. 230 entries errata list for all instruments, for the Durand/Boosey publication rental parts is available at
<proofer1(at)comcast.net>

Tuba entries extracted from that list:

Saxes, Tromb.III, Tuba.
Score page 66 Reh. #18 Measure 14 beat 1
Add staccato as printed in the parts. Added by J.M. Not in Tromb. III, Tuba in A.O.
[A.O. = Arbie Orenstein, Eulenburg edition. J.M. = Jean-François Monnard, Breitkopf edition. These editions are not legal in the U.S.]

Tuba Part Reh.16 Measure 12 beat 1
Remove the accent as simile is printed at Reh. 16 meas. 3.