Posted by No Sow Lo on January 12, 2001 at 16:38:31:
In Reply to: Tuba solos in the orchestra! posted by Kristian Kifa on January 11, 2001 at 16:12:10:
Woodwinds have solos - real solos - all the time. The Mahler 3rd trombone solo is a real solo. The Tschaikovsky 5th French horn solo is a real solo. Except for Bydlo and Jabba The Hut, none of these other tuba licks, riffs and brief statements are even in the same league. A solo occurs when the uninitiated in the audience notice the tuba is featured, leading, not simply included. There are members of the orchestra who don't even notice the Mahler 1st statement. If it's not a 3-pointer, it's simply a free throw, regardless of whether it's a game winner. To me, a solo is a solo by other instruments' standards and other instruments wouldn't call 99% of these "solos". Sorry if that's "all we have". Orchestral tuba is largely a role instrument (different roles at different times), not a home run hitter, even if the capabilites exist and composers, unfortunately, aren't inventive enough to understand how.