Best band music for euphonium

[mbrooke]

What band piece has the "best" euphonium part? Not necessarily the hardest or the best solo, but the most fun to play. Any thoughts...

I'll open with the Russlan and Ludmilla Overture.

Mike

[uieuph]

Best band music for euphonium

I really like Symphony #3 "Slavyanskaya" by Boris Kozhevnikov. There are no solos, but there is euphonium duet and a lot of great melodic lines. I liked it so much I arranged the first movement for tuba/euphonium ensemble which was debuted at the University of Northern Iowa.

[davewerden]

Best band music for euphonium

I would absolutely suggest the 1st movement of Holst's 2nd Suite in F. The euphonium solo there is there perfect example of good use of the euphonium.

[biotron2000]

Best band music for euphonium

The Holst piece is what inspired me to switch to euphonium from trombone in high school. I still love playing it to this day (and still crack the G!).

Patrick McNeal

[keithbarton]

Best band music for euphonium

I second Dave's suggestion. Its as if the entire 1st movement is written around the euphonium. One doesn't see that very often.

[daruby]

Best band music for euphonium

While I agree with the Holst 1st Suite in F for original compositions, my favorite transcription (for its Euphonium part) is excerpts from the opera Andrea Chenier. The Boosey/Hawkes version has extensive Euphonium soloes opposite the cornet. The Jim Curnow version was written as a tribute to Leonard Falcone and originally performed by Earle Louder. It is virtually a Euphonium solo from beginning to end!

Doug

[carbogast]

Best band music for euphonium

I too am, and always will be, "in love" with Holst's 2nd Suite in F. Yet, I have never performed it. I am looking forward to the day! - Carroll

[GregEuphonium]

Best band music for euphonium

I agree with all the pieces suggested so far on this thread. All great examples. Personally, the piece that I enjoy playing the most (in an ensemble) is "The Melody Shop" by King. Aside from the fact that it is one of the few pieces that really showcases the Euphonium's ability to play fast, it is just tons of fun to play! It sits very nicely on the Euphonium (mostly because of the fact that King was a baritone/euphonium player).

[keithbarton]

Best band music for euphonium

well, echoing what Doug Einstein mentioned.. Arthur talks ALOT about Andrea Chenier - Grand Scenes. Doug, could this be what he is speaking of? Are we all missing a great piece of music here?

[daruby]

Best band music for euphonium

I am pretty certain that the Andrea Chenier that Arthur is talking about is the Boosey&Hawkes transcription. I suppoes the title could be "Grand Scenes from the Opera Andrea Chenier"?

Just this summer, Don Flickinger of the Blue Lake Summer Music Camp rolled out the Jim Curnow transcription. It is quite different. Instead of a soloistic conversation between the cornet and euphonium, it is almost all euphonium arias.

This is a HUGE euphonium number. I played the older transcription in 1971 when I was in junior college. I remember playing it for a concert in which Leonard Smith was the guest cornet soloist. After the performance, he said to the director (in my hearing) "Hmmm, lots of euphonium in that one!". I think that was his way of sending a compliment.

Doug

[keithbarton]

Best band music for euphonium

Would have to be the B&H piece, Doctor Doug; Arthur talked about it alot and he did retire in 1971. I have never seen it. Think I have the Marine Band on tape, playing it, but will have to look. Must have 50 Marine Band tapes Arthur sent me, and I forget what I have after awhile.

[WaltTrombone]

Best band music for euphonium

I have to go with Dave's choice of the Holst 2nd Suite. Ruslan & Ludmilla is a goodie, too. The first couple of lines of Pineapple Poll is both terrifying and exhilarating. I recently played a Suite From Carmen that gave just about the entire Toreador's Song to the euph, that was big fun, too!

Sorry, can't pick just one...

[WyoBadger]

Best band music for euphonium

Can't beat the two Holst suites, especially no.2 mvt. 1.

For lyrical playing, I also enjoy some of Grainger's arrangements, particularly "Irish Tune from County Derry" and "Australian Upcountry Tune." That one always gets me a bit choked up when it's played well.

Tom

[uieuph]

Best band music for euphonium

Speaking of the Holst Suites, I work for an orchestra which is currently having a concert right now. In the repertoire for this morning, they are playing Dargason from the St Paul Suite. This is a transcription from Fantasy on the Dargason from Holst's Second Suite in F. Needless to say, with all strings, it sounds very lackluster especially with a cello trying to play the euphonium part.

[WyoBadger]

Best band music for euphonium

Originally posted by: uieuph
This is a transcription from Fantasy on the Dargason from Holst's Second Suite in F. Needless to say, with all strings, it sounds very lackluster especially with a cello trying to play the euphonium part.

There oughta be a law against that!