Tuba essentials (music, recordings, and literature)

[sc_curtis]

Ok, I have already done a search on this, and after an hour of sifting through SEVERAL threads, I just gave up. I got this idea after seeing the thread on the Song and Wind.

What do you consider should be in every tuba player's library? I'm talking literature on the tuba (i.e. Song and Wind), duet or trio books, excerpt books (other than the Torchinksy's), and etude books. Also, what recordings (solo/ensemble/orchestral) do you think are "essential?" Feel free to add as much or as little (or even nothing at all!) to the list. I left solos and large tuba/euph ensembles off on purpose, as that would undoubtedly double the recommendations.

And BTW, I have been playing a lot today (2 3-hour rehearsals and 2 hours of practicing), and needed to kill some time before I went back to play some more. So don't tell me to go practice!!!

Thanks in advance!!!

Edit: Ok, so if you were making a wish-list, what would you have on it?

**There are links to a few of these throughout this thread**

Books so far:
1. Song and Wind
2. Erick D. Brand's Band Instrument Repairing Manual
3. The Art of Practicing, a Guide to Making Music from the Heart, by Madeline Bruser
4. "The Tuba Family" by Clifford Bevan

Method books so far:
1. Arban - Complete Method (Original Trumpet)
2. Bobo - Mastering the Tuba
3. Blazhevich - Books I & II
4. Tyrell - 40 Studies
5. Brandt - 34 Etudes for Trumpet
6. Vizzuti - Books 1-3 and New Concepts
7. Snedecor - Low Etudes
8. Rochut - Melodius Etudes
9. Reynolds - 48 Etudes for French Horn
10. Kopprasch - 60 Studies for French Horn
11. Bell - Complete Tuba Method
12. Wes Jacobs' Daily Routine
13. Patrick Sheridan books
14. Complete Solfeggi (Legato Etudes), Concone/W. Jacobs
15. Grigoriev
16. Marco Bordogni 43 Bel Canto Studies for Tuba
17. Uber
18. Clodimir
19. Marchesi
20. Kling
21. Vasiliev
22. Sciotino
23. Sear (Walter, not the store)
24. Rubank
25. Fake book
26. Blue and Red Books for Horn
27. Oboe "bible" by Albert Androud
28. Bach for Tuba vol. 1 & 2 Bixby/Bobo

Music:
Bach Cello Suites (totally free from link!)

Recordings:
1. Pokorny CDs (Excerpt and Solo)
2. Patrick Sheridan CDs
3. The KNOBS!
4. Floyd Cooley CDs
5. John Fletcher R.V.W. Concerto

Excerpts:
1. All Torchinksy
2. Gordon Cherry Low Brass CD

Ensembles:
1. Bass-clef edition of accompanying quartets to the "Evangelisches Kirchengesangbuch"

[josh wagner]

I find arbans to be one of the best things i have in my little library. that and Rochut. But thats me. I like to make up my own excersises on the spot too it kind of helps me out on my improving and with everything else like pitch accuracy and things of that nature. great for warm up. welp thats what i find to be helpful take it or leave it it's all good. best of luck in your search

[Dean E]

. . . . What do you consider should be in every tuba player's library? . . . .

1. Orchestral Excerpts, such as Gordon Cherry's Low Brass Excerpts on .pdf .
https://www.cherry-classics.com
2. Erick D. Brand's Band Instrument Repairing Manual (reprinted by Ferree's Tools 1993).
http://www.ferreestools.com/
3. Gene Pokorny's CD, Orchestral Excerpts for Tuba.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... ce&s=music

[MikeMason]

My go-to etude books are Bordogni,Tyrell,Koprasch,Wes Jacob's Daily Routine and low legato studies,and the Vaughn Williams Six studies on English Folksongs.Those'll cover anything you might encounter.I have many others,but they're dusty.

[joshwirt]

A healthy, regular diet for me consists of the following ingredients:

Arban - Complete Method (the original, not the trombone/tuba versions)
Bobo - Mastering the Tuba
Blazhevich - Books I & II
Tyrell - 40 Studies
Brandt - 34 Etudes for Trumpet
Vizzuti - Books 1-3 and New Concepts
Snedecor - Low Etudes
Rochut - Melodius Etudes
Reynolds - 48 Etudes for French Horn
Kopprasch - 60 Studies for French Horn
Bell - Complete Tuba Method

-Improvise the exact ingredients and quantity of each (I like to vary them to keep the palette fresh)

-Mix thoroughly with both the bass and contrabass tubas (for me it's a B&S F and a Yorkbrunner)

-Then add a dash of the regular Orchestral Excerpts and whatever solo piece(s) you've already got in the oven, and bake at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes.

-Serves 1-3 depending on 4/4 vs. 5/4 or 6/4 tubas....

Cheers!
Josh Wirt

[tubeast]

This concentrated greatly on educational material so far.
May I add a bass-clef edition of accompanying quartets to the "Evangelisches Kirchengesangbuch" (I forget the exact title, but will look it up later if you´re interested) ?

It has, like, hundreds of chorals used in church and provide easy-to-do quartets that sound great.
Good results if used with tubaeuph quartet.

[finnbogi]

a bass-clef edition of accompanying quartets to the "Evangelisches Kirchengesangbuch"

There is a bass clef version?!?

[SplatterTone]

If I may take a populist, commercial turn here. I have all the Patrick Sheridan book/CDs. I like Let's Play Tuba as a beginner book, and Musical Souvenirs as an intermediate (give or take) book. The play-along accompaniments on these are enjoyable; and one has the playing of Patrick to listen to. So when I start getting uppity and start thinking that I'm sounding pretty good, I can put in the CD and then: Weeellll ... maybe I need to do a little more work on that. For me, being able to listen to an expert on a good Hi-Fi has been helpful.

[gwwilk]

You can obtain Wes Jacobs 'Warmup and Daily Routine' from Encore Music Publishers. Here is the url: http://www.encoremupub.com/t09.htm

[AndyL]

I had a few lessons with Jacob Cameron when he taught at GVSU, and he recommended the following two items, which I continue to reap benefits from. Thanks, Jacob!

Complete Solfeggi (Legato Etudes) by Concone arranged for tuba by Wesley Jacobs (with 144 pages this book is a bargain, IMHO)

http://www.encoremupub.com/9159info.htm

and,

The Art of Practicing, a Guide to Making Music from the Heart, by Madeline Bruser

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... s&n=507846

Bruser's book is written from her point of view of a pianist, with additional contribution from wind players. Still a good look at how and what to practice.

[tubacdk]

the only significant omission I see from the lists above is a book of Bach's Cello Suites. These provide a musical and technical challenge found nowhere in the music written for brass instruments.

[TubaRay]

I don't wish to flame concerning the use of fake books, etc. I would, however, say that the standard technique books are of value to virtually all players. The wise student will find a balance of material to work on which will keep his/her interest from waning. This would obviously be different from one person to another. As long as we are able to remain interested in what we are practicing, we will be able to look forward to practicing instead of dreading it.

Personally, I look forward to practicing whenever I actually get to do it. In my particular case, I spend daily time on chop and technique maintenance. I am extremely dedicated to this because it is what makes it possible for me to perform at a level I am comfortable with. Sometimes I get to actually practice other things. This I enjoy very much. The maintenance stuff I do cannot be called fun. It is fun to be able to do things right when I perform, though.

[Haugan]

Don't leave out the French Horn literature as a possible source, either. There are two "compendiums" (used to be known to hornist's as the "Blue Book" and the "Red Book", they may not still be these colors) from :"Southern Music" in San Antonio Texas. They can be played by "transposing" in Eb, or transposing in C. When I was in H.S. I "stole" my sisters oboe music, also a big thick "bible-like" complete method book from "southern" by Albert Androud.

Learn to transpose, it's not as hard as you think it will be. Arnold Jacobs made me get the Arban for cornet (I had the trombone version)and play it in C (AND Bb!) way early on; and between that and playing BBb, CC, F, and Eb tubas, I can pick up nearly any tuba and/or switch horns on the same music without too much trouble. It'll come in handy if you'll ever play in brass bands, or some tenor tuba parts. There are even ORCHESTRA parts (Walton, Bax) that can "throw you for a loop" if you can't transpose. Whatever you do, don't just confine yourself to stuff "just for tuba"

P.S. To "Snuffy": No "flaming" here. I think EVERYBODY that plays an instrument can benefit from learning to "play by ear". It's all too understressed among the "classically trained".If you start out early at this, or work it into what your normal practice routine is, you just may find that you'll never be out of work playing tuba. Years ago, I used to be able to "play on the street" in MADISON (not even a "BIG CITY", but admittedly a college town) and make over $100.oo in a night. Doing that got me work w. local blues & rock bands, too. One year $7000.oo of my income came from just ONE band where I NEVER saw a note of music! Don't take this "skill" (playing by ear) lightly. I've never flipped a burger, delivered a pizza, or waited on a table in 35yrs.

[windshieldbug]

I find the "Marco Bordogni 43 Bel Canto Studies for Tuba" very good to improve lyrical playing.
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store/smp ... em=2271938

Also, every serious tubist should have a copy of "The Tuba Family" by Clifford Bevan http://www.piccolopress.info/tuba_family.htm

Agree

[Frank Ortega]

I have been enjoying playing through the Bach for Tuba books at any available moment. They place all kinds of challenges on tubists that we don't usually encounter in most other etude books. Also, they are written with CC or BBb in mind, so it's great soloistic material, in a usable range for the bigger guns.
Oh, and Buy Ron's cd's, he's a great guy and an awesome player. If you get a chance to be in NYC for his next Tubapalooza, do it! He'll blow you away!

[sc_curtis]

Do you have any publisher/arranger info for "Bach for Tubas?" Also, who is Ron?

[Frank Ortega]

Bach for Tuba vol. 1 & 2
compiled and arranged by Douglass Bixby
edited by Roger Bobo
Pub Western International Music, Inc.

Ron = Ron Caswell, Tubist for The Knobs and a bunch of other funky little groups in and around New York City

[sc_curtis]

Thank you much, kind sir.

[Frank Ortega]

When Frank brings a Hoochie Momma to the Tubapalooza,

we call this a Hoochie-palooza-tuba-momma-buzza-guzzle-hipster-funtime!I may be late, but I wouldn't miss it for the world!