I've heard that story and told it a few times (with the caveat that I only know it as a rumor).Curmudgeon wrote:That story has been around a very long time. Could be true.thattubachick wrote:The story I heard about the tuba part (which is probably completely fictional but a fun story nonetheless, and I honestly can't remember where I heard it) is this:
When Dvorak was writing the piece he was told that the Orchestra would be taking it, and him, on tour. He originally planned to have no tuba in it at all, but then found out that his wife was having an affair with the tuba player. With no tuba part, going on tour would have meant leaving his wife all alone at home with the tubist to keep her company. To avoid that happening, he wrote us 14 notes as a kind of musical middle finger to the guy... and to keep him close by to keep an eye on him!
I've played the piece a couple times, the first I played bass trombone cues the whole time, and the second I only played the 2nd movement stuff. Great piece either way.
On the other hand, maybe it's just tuba players perpetuating it in some hopes of bolstering their own sex appeal.
Was Dvorak's wife a flute player?
I also tell it to attractive wives of composers... So far, they've made sure that most composers don't write for me.
Coincidence? I think not...considering the fact that I did NOT seduce the lovely wife of the last composer to write for me. Case and point!
Composers: Start writing more for tuba! It's safer for your marriage.
(My apologies to those of you who are enjoying affairs with composers' wives...)