Posted by Larry zaidan on October 26, 2001 at 00:04:41:
I just read a Strauss waltz tonight with an orchestra.
The part was a little odd, in that it was written for only one trombone, and tuba, both on the same page. Some of the part was in split staves, the other shows only one line (trombonish range), but often with a penciled in "a2". While the parts above the staff are playable, the don't sound particularly "tuba-like".
I imagine that an F tuba would be appropriate for Strauss waltzes in general, but I am curious as to whether there is a tradition of reading down the octave in cases like this, or do you think that Strauss never intended the tuba to play these high parts at all?
P.S. - I unfortunately don't remember the name of the piece, but I know it is not "The Blue Danube", which I know is written for bass trombone and tuba only.
Thanks,
Larry Zaidan