Rite of Spring

[tobysima`]

If you could pick two specific instruments to play Rite of Spring on, what are you going with? I think I'm gonna have to pick a British F Tuba and a Kaiser - Both Wessex!

[Bob Kolada]

I've only played this at home, on euph, Eb, and cimbasso. Depending on the group and the acoustics, a big euph and a moderate sized bass tuba, both in the same style (both pistons or rotaries) might be fun. A guy on the old trombone forum said he did it on euph with the other guy on a Yamaha 321 Eb.

[tobysima`]

I've only played this at home, on euph, Eb, and cimbasso. Depending on the group and the acoustics, a big euph and a moderate sized bass tuba, both in the same style (both pistons or rotaries) might be fun. A guy on the old trombone forum said he did it on euph with the other guy on a Yamaha 321 Eb.

I've seen people who've done it on two at least 5/4 CC tubas, so I figured anything was game

My teacher has told me that the Kaiser British F combo is great. Didn't specifically say for this piece, but it's something I want to hear.

[Alex C]

Stravinsky wrote for French tuba. His concept for tuba sound would originally have been kind of farty in the low register and punchy in the the upper. Using big CC tubas changes those low register sounds to massive. It all works with great players.

The recording I most remember was the LA phil with Bobo playing either a 184 or that tiny Miraphone F they sold in the 1960s. It didn't matter what tuba he used, he abosolutely killed it. In that high F to Gb section he he was screaming or the rest of the orchestra and it worked musically. He was a total beast.

Was Mehta the conductor on this recording? Bless him for letting Roger sing like that.

[tobysima`]

Stravinsky wrote for French tuba. His concept for tuba sound would originally have been kind of farty in the low register and punchy in the the upper. Using big CC tubas changes those low register sounds to massive. It all works with great players.

The recording I most remember was the LA phil with Bobo playing either a 184 or that tiny Miraphone F they sold in the 1960s. It didn't matter what tuba he used, he abosolutely killed it. In that high F to Gb section he he was screaming or the rest of the orchestra and it worked musically. He was a total beast.

Was Mehta the conductor on this recording? Bless him for letting Roger sing like that.

Do you know the date of this recording? I could find it if you know! I have the 70's Planets one with Tommy Johnson and Bobo. If you want it I'll put the Spotify album here!

[jtm]

I would pick a bassoon, at least to start with.

[tobysima`]

I would pick a bassoon, at least to start with.

I mean tubas haha. Smart aleck

[UncleBeer]

Here's the Rite played as Stravinsky wrote it, for two French tubas: https://youtu.be/rq1q6u3mLSM?t=1055 (No idea why I can't seem to embed the video...)

[Robert Tucci]

One of the most consistent, gravest and most often made mistakes in the tuba parts takes place during the "Dance of the Earth", moving toward the finale of the part one. The tubas and related instruments play G# to F#, repeated twice then followed by a a longer passage of G#, A#, C#, A#, G#, F#. The phrasing is clearly indicated: the G# - F# in the first two measures is tied. This applies to the following, longer passage. The six notes are tied, also a phrase in itself. This passage is repeated several time, musical fury and played at high volume. The mistake is invariably the same: breathing after the first note of the second phrase, the G#, then playing the following notes tied. This makes the F# a "pick-up" to the following passage therefore in full conflict with the composer's notation.

Should you have opportunity to perfom the "Rites", give the one lryical section in the tuba parts necessary attention. The ballet was in the repertoire of the Bavarian State Opera for years to the point that we, the tubists, could play the entire work by memory.

Bob Tucci

[DandyZ629]

Stravinsky wrote for French tuba. His concept for tuba sound would originally have been kind of farty in the low register and punchy in the the upper. Using big CC tubas changes those low register sounds to massive. It all works with great players.

The recording I most remember was the LA phil with Bobo playing either a 184 or that tiny Miraphone F they sold in the 1960s. It didn't matter what tuba he used, he absolutely killed it. In that high F to Gb section he he was screaming or the rest of the orchestra and it worked musically. He was a total beast.

Was Mehta the conductor on this recording? Bless him for letting Roger sing like that.

Yes. That's the 1969 Mehta recording, with Tommy Johnson on 2nd. Mehta has recorded it four times, once with the LAPO and thrice with the NYPO. The second NYPO recording, from 1990, is Warren Deck and Don Harry. Absolutely monstrous playing. Definitely not using small equipment.
My personal favorite recordings of this are; Dorati/Minneapolis from 1959, this is on Mercury and saying this is intense doesn't do it justice especially the bass trombone. Holy.Mother.Of.God. The other is the Stravinsky/Columbia Symphony from 1960. Again, completely visceral, and intense low brass playing. Hyper aggressive trombones, and the tubas aren't far behind. There is something to be said about a composer interprets their own works. The other, is the Mehta/LAPO that was first mentioned. I think that Bobo/Johnson sound even better on this than the Planets. But not quite as good as their Alpensinfonie. That, is otherworldly.

[tobysima`]

Stravinsky wrote for French tuba. His concept for tuba sound would originally have been kind of farty in the low register and punchy in the the upper. Using big CC tubas changes those low register sounds to massive. It all works with great players.

The recording I most remember was the LA phil with Bobo playing either a 184 or that tiny Miraphone F they sold in the 1960s. It didn't matter what tuba he used, he absolutely killed it. In that high F to Gb section he he was screaming or the rest of the orchestra and it worked musically. He was a total beast.

Was Mehta the conductor on this recording? Bless him for letting Roger sing like that.

Yes. That's the 1969 Mehta recording, with Tommy Johnson on 2nd. Mehta has recorded it three times, once with the LAPO and twice with the NYPO. The second NYPO recording, from 1990, is Warren Deck and Don Harry. Absolutely monstrous playing. Definitely not using small equipment.
My personal favorite recordings of this are; Dorati/Minneapolis from 1959, this is on Mercury and saying this is intense doesn't do it justice especially the bass trombone. Holy.Mother.Of.God. The other is the Stravinsky/Columbia Symphony from 1960. Again, completely visceral, and intense low brass playing. Hyper aggressive trombones, and the tubas aren't far behind. There is something to be said about a composer interprets their own works. The other, is the Mehta/LAPO that was first mentioned. I think that Bobo/Johnson sound even better on this than the Planets. But not quite as good as their Alpensinfonie. That, is otherworldly.

Bobo and Johnson on Holst's Planets is the only recording I will listen to. Absolutely Legendary. Do you know where I can find this recording of Rite of Spring?

[matt g]

Bobo/Johnson/LA Phil Holst is an “interesting” recording but I wouldn’t reference it for academic purposes.

The Dutoit/Montreal recording is quite well-received.

Holst: The Planets

Also the Levine/CSO recording is solid.

Holst: The Planets

p.s. The media embed is great...

[DandyZ629]

Stravinsky wrote for French tuba. His concept for tuba sound would originally have been kind of farty in the low register and punchy in the the upper. Using big CC tubas changes those low register sounds to massive. It all works with great players.

The recording I most remember was the LA phil with Bobo playing either a 184 or that tiny Miraphone F they sold in the 1960s. It didn't matter what tuba he used, he absolutely killed it. In that high F to Gb section he he was screaming or the rest of the orchestra and it worked musically. He was a total beast.

Was Mehta the conductor on this recording? Bless him for letting Roger sing like that.

Yes. That's the 1969 Mehta recording, with Tommy Johnson on 2nd. Mehta has recorded it three times, once with the LAPO and twice with the NYPO. The second NYPO recording, from 1990, is Warren Deck and Don Harry. Absolutely monstrous playing. Definitely not using small equipment.
My personal favorite recordings of this are; Dorati/Minneapolis from 1959, this is on Mercury and saying this is intense doesn't do it justice especially the bass trombone. Holy.Mother.Of.God. The other is the Stravinsky/Columbia Symphony from 1960. Again, completely visceral, and intense low brass playing. Hyper aggressive trombones, and the tubas aren't far behind. There is something to be said about a composer interprets their own works. The other, is the Mehta/LAPO that was first mentioned. I think that Bobo/Johnson sound even better on this than the Planets. But not quite as good as their Alpensinfonie. That, is otherworldly.

Bobo and Johnson on Holst's Planets is the only recording I will listen to. Absolutely Legendary. Do you know where I can find this recording of Rite of Spring?

https://youtu.be/UfL-oaRLiBo

[tobysima`]

Yes. That's the 1969 Mehta recording, with Tommy Johnson on 2nd. Mehta has recorded it three times, once with the LAPO and twice with the NYPO. The second NYPO recording, from 1990, is Warren Deck and Don Harry. Absolutely monstrous playing. Definitely not using small equipment.
My personal favorite recordings of this are; Dorati/Minneapolis from 1959, this is on Mercury and saying this is intense doesn't do it justice especially the bass trombone. Holy.Mother.Of.God. The other is the Stravinsky/Columbia Symphony from 1960. Again, completely visceral, and intense low brass playing. Hyper aggressive trombones, and the tubas aren't far behind. There is something to be said about a composer interprets their own works. The other, is the Mehta/LAPO that was first mentioned. I think that Bobo/Johnson sound even better on this than the Planets. But not quite as good as their Alpensinfonie. That, is otherworldly.

Bobo and Johnson on Holst's Planets is the only recording I will listen to. Absolutely Legendary. Do you know where I can find this recording of Rite of Spring?

https://youtu.be/UfL-oaRLiBo

Thank you so much! :)

[hrender]

Re: Holst, came across this. Many issues, but still interesting.

[tobysima`]

Re: Holst, came across this. Many issues, but still interesting.

I'd assume British F?

[tobysima`]

Bobo/Johnson/LA Phil Holst is an “interesting” recording but I wouldn’t reference it for academic purposes.

The Dutoit/Montreal recording is quite well-received.

Holst: The Planets

Also the Levine/CSO recording is solid.

Holst: The Planets

p.s. The media embed is great...

How's the tuba on those recordings? Is the CSO with Gene or Arnold?

[Doc]

Bobo/Johnson/LA Phil Holst is an “interesting” recording but I wouldn’t reference it for academic purposes.

The Dutoit/Montreal recording is quite well-received.

Holst: The Planets

Also the Levine/CSO recording is solid.

Holst: The Planets

p.s. The media embed is great...

How's the tuba on those recordings? Is the CSO with Gene or Arnold?

The Montreal recording is one of the first CD's (instead of record albums) I ever purchased. Ellis Wean plays great tuba. Their Pictures at an Exhibition and Petrushka recordings are clear and well-done. Strong, tasteful brass playing, but not in your face (French). The Pictures recording also has Night on Bare Mountain and Russian Easter Festival Overture, both of which offer excellent tuba playing.

[hrender]

I'd assume British F?

I'd assume so.

[tobysima`]

Bobo/Johnson/LA Phil Holst is an “interesting” recording but I wouldn’t reference it for academic purposes.

The Dutoit/Montreal recording is quite well-received.

Holst: The Planets

Also the Levine/CSO recording is solid.

Holst: The Planets

p.s. The media embed is great...

How's the tuba on those recordings? Is the CSO with Gene or Arnold?

The Montreal recording is one of the first CD's (instead of record albums) I ever purchased. Ellis Wean plays great tuba. Their Pictures at an Exhibition and Petrushka recordings are clear and well-done. Strong, tasteful brass playing, but not in your face (French). The Pictures recording also has Night on Bare Mountain and Russian Easter Festival Overture, both of which offer excellent tuba playing.

Well I'll have to listen then!