Stars and Stripes Piccolo solo?

[Jonahzee]

Hey all!

Has anyone ever played the Piccolo solo in The Stars and Stripes Forever WITH the piccolo player on their euphonium with a band?

My high school band is playing the march for our final concert and I've worked up my lip trills to a solid speed and almost have learned the solo! Our band director opened up the floor to any flute player to audition for her on piccolo, but would it be heresy if I were to attempt to audition?

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Jonah Zimmerman

[davewerden]

I'd say go for it! Your odds of success depend on 2 things:

1) Your band director's general mood and sense of humor
2) How well you play it!

Our euph/tuba quartet used to do my arrangement of Stars & Stripes a lot, and it was a favorite. The euphonium took the piccolo solo in my arrangement (there are other quartet arrangements where the tuba takes the solo).

Atlantic Tuba Quartet - Stars and Stripes Forever

[DaveBj]

Jump on it! The absolute worst that can happen is that the director will have a good laugh and then say, "Next piccolo player!" The best that can happen is that you might get featured on a concert.

(I've never tried it, but I had a friend in HS who did a creditable job of it on his tuba.)

[David Bloss]

On the CD "Blazing Brass" by the Salvation Army New York Staff Band, the S&S piccolo part was played on tuba. Salvation Army bands have no woodwinds. The rest of the tuba-featuring tracks on the CD are masterful!