The Wagner Tuba: The Unappreciated Wonder of the Orchestra.

The Wagner Tuba, an instrument which, despite it’s lack of popularity amongst modern composers, is by far one the must useful of instruments to any orchestrator.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with this wonderful instrument, I invite you to visit www.wagner-tuba.com, and check out some of the information found there.

It has been my experience as an orchestrator, that despite the wonderful sonorities and colors available to me through the “Standard” Brass Choir of the Symphony Orchestra, using a quartett of these “Tuben” greatly enhances the depth and rich flavour of the brass section. Whether it be a grand Orchestra Tutti, or a Tuben solo or soli, the sound of these instruments are unique and distinctive in the orchestral sound.

The use of these instruments in the Orchestra is very rare. The great master Wagner used them in “The Ring”, Bruckner used them in his 7th, 8th, and 9th symphonies, and Schoenberg used them in the “Gurrelieder”. As far as I know, only one large solo work has been written for the wagner tuba, that being the Edel Rhapsody for Orchestra and solo tenor Wagner Tuba.

If you’ve never heard the sound of these fantastic instruments I would suggest Bruckner’s Symphony #7, the Second Movement. This is the most famous of passages, occuring in the very first bar.

 I’m sure after hearing the sounds of this instrument you will agree that although the orchestra could go without them, once they’re there, they simply will not go away.