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Hey everyone,

Last fall I started playing in our community orchestra again. Now that our season just ended, the director sends out a survey in which he asks for suggestions for future rep. I'll admit, I'm more of a band guy, so I'm not sure what all is out there for orchestra that isn't an entire symphony (we just don't have the time for an entire symphony on our concerts).

So, what pieces can you throw my way that have fun/interesting tuba parts that I could suggest? We're a 90 piece group with a full wind section of great players. Thanks!

Hungarian March, the Strauss tone poems. Tchaik Romeo and Juliet can be a lot of fun!

I can't give specific examples, but the community orchestra I last played in had more of a pops focus, and a lot of those pops style pieces had tuba parts all throughout. Unlike the more symphonic stuff where you play two or three notes and then count 187 measures.

Mary Ann wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2024 11:04 am I can't give specific examples, but the community orchestra I last played in had more of a pops focus, and a lot of those pops style pieces had tuba parts all throughout. Unlike the more symphonic stuff where you play two or three notes and then count 187 measures.

We do play some pops stuff, which does usually have more involved tuba parts. Our concerts usually follow this pattern:

November - One bigger work, a couple of smaller/shorter ones (depending on what is picked, I tend to play a fair amount. One year was Dvorak 9, so I didn't play much)
February - featured soloists from the small university we are "housed" in, plus a couple other works, sometimes chamber orchestra (This is usually the concert I play the least in)
April - Some pops, some classical (I usually play on most of this concert).

Pieces that don't show up on auditions that I've been very satisfied playing:

Rachmaninoff 2nd Symphony
Vaughan Williams Dona Nobis Pacem
Grofe Grand Canyon Suite
Gliere 3rd Symphony
Elgar In the South

Edit: Just turned on the Vaughan Williams because this post reminded me of it. If you can be a part of a performance of it, jump at it. Not the most technically demanding part, but it requires an intense amount of emotion and control. Not that I don't put my all into every performance, but I think I felt more of an artist after performing this piece than anything else I've ever done.

It's easier to learn to be satisfied playing whatever parts you're given, and use them to make others' solo and soli passages sound as good as they can possibly sound, and - if it's an orchestra rehearsal - bring a book, or catch up on tubaforum.

Richard Wagner:
Overture to Mastersingers of Nuremburg
Ride of the Valkyrie

Anton Bruckner:
Symphony #4
Symphony #7

Edward Elgar:
Enigma Variations
Cockaigne Overture

Ceaser Frank:
Symphony in D minor

Ralph Vaughn-Williams:
Symphony #1, The Sea

There are many more.

bloke wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2024 3:26 pm and - if it's an orchestra rehearsal - bring a book, or catch up on tubaforum.

Especially if it's Dvorak 9

Most of the pieces with great tuba parts are fairly-to-very challenging for community orchestras and/or (if small paid orchestras or very stingy executive directors) require at least one extra player in each section.

bloke wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 12:05 pm Most of the pieces with great tuba parts are fairly-to-very challenging for community orchestras and/or (if small paid orchestras or very stingy executive directors) require at least one extra player in each section.

That is certainly something I've considered. I remember back in high school asking my band director for pieces with more challenging tuba parts and his response was something to the effect of, "Well, if the tuba part gets hard, that makes it really hard for the woodwinds."

I appreciate the responses! Please keep them coming if you've got more to share.

I don't know what level of player you are. Some of the suggested pieces above can be challenging.

So, how about:

Russian Easter Overture
Ein Heldenleben

Easy, but fun:

How To Train Your Dragon

Mark wrote: ↑Wed Apr 24, 2024 8:13 pm I don't know what level of player you are. Some of the suggested pieces above can be challenging.

So, how about:

Russian Easter Overture
Ein Heldenleben

Easy, but fun:

How To Train Your Dragon

Thanks for the continued suggestions! I'm a band teacher, so I went through the music ed program with a great tuba teacher. I certainly haven't played as much as I did in college (what band teacher really does? Unless they are better at balancing work, family, church, and other obligations better than me). I did set a goal this school year to play my instrument every day. So far, I've only missed seven days total, so I've definitely noticed an improvement in my playing over past years.

If Heldenleben, try to cop the baritone horn part...particularly since it's labeled "tuba" you're the "PRINCIPAL" tuba.