What Living Composer Would You Want a Tuba Work From

Tubas, euphoniums, mouthpieces, and anything music-related.
Forum rules
This section is for posts that are directly related to performance, performers, or equipment. Social issues are allowed, as long as they are directly related to those categories. If you see a post that you cannot respond to with respect and courtesy, we ask that you do not respond at all.
User avatar
russiantuba
Posts: 354
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:04 am
Location: Circleville, Ohio
Has thanked: 15 times
Been thanked: 96 times
Contact:

What Living Composer Would You Want a Tuba Work From

Post by russiantuba »

This is not a call for a consortium or a commission, however, it seems like more and more great composers are writing for tuba, and including tuba/cimbasso solos in major film soundtracks. Of the living composers, who do you think would write a great, effective work for tuba that has not composed a solo work for tuba.

My first vote would go to Danny Elfman.
These users thanked the author russiantuba for the post:
York-aholic (Tue Jun 29, 2021 8:40 pm)


Dr. James M. Green
Lecturer in Music--Ohio Northern University
Adjunct Professor of Music--Ohio Christian University
Gronitz PF 125
Miraphone 1291CC
Miraphone Performing Artist
www.russiantuba.com
User avatar
bort2.0
Posts: 5254
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:13 am
Location: Minneapolis
Has thanked: 336 times
Been thanked: 999 times

Re: What Living Composer Would You Want a Tuba Work From

Post by bort2.0 »

I think John Williams deserves another shot at it.
User avatar
LargeTuba
Posts: 777
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 11:08 am
Has thanked: 97 times
Been thanked: 136 times

Re: What Living Composer Would You Want a Tuba Work From

Post by LargeTuba »

bort2.0 wrote: Tue Jun 29, 2021 9:19 pm I think John Williams deserves another shot at it.
Your not a fan of the John Williams tuba concerto?
Pt-6P, Holton 345 CC, 45slp
User avatar
windshieldbug
Posts: 500
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 1:02 pm
Location: 8 vb
Has thanked: 325 times
Been thanked: 90 times

Re: What Living Composer Would You Want a Tuba Work From

Post by windshieldbug »

John Adams has an exceptional understanding of the tuba’s capabilities and has written outstanding parts in the works he’s composed. I’d love to hear his concept of a tuba concerto.
These users thanked the author windshieldbug for the post:
York-aholic (Tue Jun 29, 2021 11:40 pm)
If it’s tourist season, why can’t we shoot them?
York-aholic
Posts: 1432
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 10:39 pm
Location: SoCal
Has thanked: 1556 times
Been thanked: 467 times

Re: What Living Composer Would You Want a Tuba Work From

Post by York-aholic »

windshieldbug wrote: Tue Jun 29, 2021 9:37 pm John Adams has an exceptional understanding of the tuba’s capabilities and has written outstanding parts in the works he’s composed. I’d love to hear his concept of a tuba concerto.
I agree. John Adams gets my vote!
These users thanked the author York-aholic for the post:
windshieldbug (Wed Jun 30, 2021 8:53 am)
Some old Yorks, Martins, and perhaps a King rotary valved CC
User avatar
bloke
Mid South Music
Posts: 19326
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:55 am
Location: western Tennessee - near Memphis
Has thanked: 3852 times
Been thanked: 4102 times

Re: What Living Composer Would You Want a Tuba Work From

Post by bloke »

The best solo works have tended to be those whereby their composers ignored the believed/perceived limitations of the instrument, and just wrote music that they thought would sound cool, if played on it.
Last edited by bloke on Fri Jul 09, 2021 9:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
These users thanked the author bloke for the post:
TheBerlinerTuba (Fri Jul 09, 2021 9:05 am)
User avatar
BuddyRogersMusic
Cincinnati's Largest Showroom of Band Instruments
Posts: 175
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 6:36 pm
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Has thanked: 64 times
Been thanked: 77 times
Contact:

Re: What Living Composer Would You Want a Tuba Work From

Post by BuddyRogersMusic »

Gordy Haab; he's done great work in the video game world with original material and that inspired by Williams for the Star Wars-related games. Side note, I did my student teaching at Lee Davis HS in Mechanicsville, VA when he was a student there.
Chris Hite
Repair Technician and Low Brass Specialist
www.buddyrogers.com
edfirth
Posts: 166
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2020 10:16 am
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 97 times

Re: What Living Composer Would You Want a Tuba Work From

Post by edfirth »

I'll second Danny Elfman.Ed
User avatar
bloke
Mid South Music
Posts: 19326
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:55 am
Location: western Tennessee - near Memphis
Has thanked: 3852 times
Been thanked: 4102 times

Re: What Living Composer Would You Want a Tuba Work From

Post by bloke »

Answering the opposite (and given an enhanced/modern - tonal: with key signatures - tonal palette), Chopin was just about the greatest of all time combining memorable/remarkable tunes with memorable/remarkable chord progressions.
hrender
Posts: 1910
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:18 am
Has thanked: 612 times
Been thanked: 298 times

Re: What Living Composer Would You Want a Tuba Work From

Post by hrender »

I only really know film composers, so Zimmer, Newman (Thomas or Randy), or Elfman.

Randy Newman (with Michael Roth) knows brass:
User avatar
GC
Posts: 515
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 2:53 pm
Location: Rome, GA [Rosedale/Armuchee suburbs]
Has thanked: 77 times
Been thanked: 99 times

Re: What Living Composer Would You Want a Tuba Work From

Post by GC »

Michael Giacchino. Topnotch film composer, wide musical vocabulary, master of many styles, writes listenable and easily relatable scores.

The thought of a John Adams or Danny Elfman concerto interest me a lot, too.
These users thanked the author GC for the post:
Mike (Wed Jun 30, 2021 9:36 pm)
Packer/Sterling JP377 compensating Eb; Mercer & Barker MBUZ5 (Tim Buzbee "Lone ☆ Star" F-tuba mouthpiece), Mercer & Barker MB3; for sale: Conn Monster Eb 1914, Fillmore Bros 1/4 Eb ca. 1905 antique (still plays), Bach 42B trombone
User avatar
russiantuba
Posts: 354
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:04 am
Location: Circleville, Ohio
Has thanked: 15 times
Been thanked: 96 times
Contact:

Re: What Living Composer Would You Want a Tuba Work From

Post by russiantuba »

It seems like the general consensus is that of film composers and John Adams. I whole-heartedly agree. I think these folks know how to write without limitations. It would be nice to have more works from them in the repertoire.
Dr. James M. Green
Lecturer in Music--Ohio Northern University
Adjunct Professor of Music--Ohio Christian University
Gronitz PF 125
Miraphone 1291CC
Miraphone Performing Artist
www.russiantuba.com
York-aholic
Posts: 1432
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 10:39 pm
Location: SoCal
Has thanked: 1556 times
Been thanked: 467 times

Re: What Living Composer Would You Want a Tuba Work From

Post by York-aholic »

.
Some old Yorks, Martins, and perhaps a King rotary valved CC
User avatar
cjk
Posts: 695
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 11:46 am
Location: Atlanta, GA
Has thanked: 264 times
Been thanked: 147 times

Re: What Living Composer Would You Want a Tuba Work From

Post by cjk »

Call me old fashioned or whatever, but whoever composes a tuba piece, I'd like to be able to whistle or hum the tune.
These users thanked the author cjk for the post (total 2):
MN_TimTuba (Fri Jul 02, 2021 9:03 pm) • bloke (Mon Jul 05, 2021 8:30 pm)
User avatar
Doc
Posts: 2472
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:48 am
Location: Downtown Browntown
Has thanked: 846 times
Been thanked: 767 times
Contact:

Re: What Living Composer Would You Want a Tuba Work From

Post by Doc »

cjk wrote: Fri Jul 02, 2021 12:55 pm Call me old fashioned or whatever, but whoever composes a tuba piece, I'd like to be able to whistle or hum the tune.
Come on, man... you're not a fan of the likes of Tuba Buffo or Kraft Encounters 2? WTH, bruh? :laugh:
Welcome to Browntown!
Home of the Brown Note!
User avatar
acemorgan
Posts: 90
Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2020 9:01 am
Location: The Old Pueblo
Has thanked: 49 times
Been thanked: 42 times

Re: What Living Composer Would You Want a Tuba Work From

Post by acemorgan »

Decades ago, when I was a new music major, I had a professor who pointed out that Romanticism was the style in which nearly all film scores are written. This was in the early 70s, and I haven't seen a lot of contrary evidence in the last 50 years. That being said, it makes a lot of sense to be leaning toward film composers. When you consider the repertoire of concertos across the instrumental spectrum, a large chunk would be from the Romantic Period. Sheesh, I sound pedantic!

In conclusion: Hans Zimmer. (A few years ago, I probably would have said James Horner. I mean, Braveheart, you know.)
These users thanked the author acemorgan for the post:
York-aholic (Fri Jul 02, 2021 9:24 pm)
Seek not to follow in the footsteps of the men of old; seek what they sought. -Basho

Courtois Eb
Carl Fischer Eb
Wessex Dolce
User avatar
Casca Grossa
Posts: 334
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 11:06 am
Location: Reading, PA, United States
Has thanked: 245 times
Been thanked: 159 times

Re: What Living Composer Would You Want a Tuba Work From

Post by Casca Grossa »

Taylor Swift...she cranks out stuff that people seem like listening to.
These users thanked the author Casca Grossa for the post:
Mike (Thu Jul 08, 2021 7:48 am)
Mirafone 184 CC
Blokepiece Imperial
Soon to be 5 valve Lignatone/Amati Eb
Blokepiece Solo
User avatar
Jim Williams
Posts: 194
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:31 am
Location: Indy Area
Has thanked: 22 times
Been thanked: 34 times
Contact:

Re: What Living Composer Would You Want a Tuba Work From

Post by Jim Williams »

I missed by 32 years...Bill Evans.
I missed by 25 years...Gerry Mulligan.
I missed by 9 years...Dave Brubeck.
These users thanked the author Jim Williams for the post:
hrender (Tue Jul 06, 2021 12:49 pm)
The artist formerly known as Snorlax.
Shires Q41 and Yamaha 321 Euphoniums.
Yamaha 621 Baritone, Conn 50H trombone.
User avatar
cjk
Posts: 695
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 11:46 am
Location: Atlanta, GA
Has thanked: 264 times
Been thanked: 147 times

Re: What Living Composer Would You Want a Tuba Work From

Post by cjk »

Shawn
Posts: 130
Joined: Mon Aug 17, 2020 12:01 pm
Location: Canada
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: What Living Composer Would You Want a Tuba Work From

Post by Shawn »

Mike Oldfield
Post Reply