Tchaikovsky that probably only some of you are aware.

[bloke]

Suite #3

It's on the scale of any of the last three symphonies, if not a bit grander, and with more difficult to play parts for most of the musicians. Typically, he doesn't challenge the tuba player very much, but that doesn't mean the part isn't fun to play If you're willing to wait to play it.

Incredible theme and variations. Find a recording on YouTube of what you suspect is the best orchestra on there and scroll towards the end to the final variation which is the finale of The Suite. It's a polacca - full of brass and percussion.

That final variation alone - played as a stand-alone piece - would be a fabulous season opener for any orchestra.

I've had the good fortune to play at once, and the particularly good fortune to play it with an incredibly good orchestra.

[graybach]

Thanks for this, Bloke. Having now heard this gem of a piece, I don’t understand why it’s not played more. I listened to a few of the examples of the last movement on YouTube, and I think my favorite was
Michael Tilson Thomas and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

[bloke]

thank

[Mary Ann]

You're right, I'd never heard of it. If I had not managed to avoid the Music Lit class at IU, likely I would have heard of it.
What I noticed is that it has extensive non-difficult Cor Anglais parts, is available on imslp, and will be a really neat Play Along piece for me.