Originally invented in 1835 to replace the Ophicleide, the Tuba is the largest, and lowest instrument in the brass family; probably the most instantly recognisable and one of the most popular, too. But, what are the best songs for Tuba?
Best songs for Tuba
As a particularly popular instrument, there are a huge number of songs and beautiful pieces of classical music that can be played on the Tuba; from the intricate solos of Grieg to the modern pop songs of ABBA and The Beatles, when it comes to the best songs for Tuba, it really just comes down to personal preference and the level of difficulty you’re currently working at.
Easy songs for Tuba beginners
Well, you have to start somewhere, right? And if you’ve only just started learning the Tuba, you’ll want to start with something really easy, like any of the following songs:
Old Macdonald Had a Farm: ok, this might not be the most exciting song to learn on the Tuba, but it’s also one of the easiest to master, and one of the most popular. Once you have this one under your belt, the musical world is truly your oyster!
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star: yes, there is a theme here in the beginners section, and that theme seems to be nursery rhymes. They’re simple, repetitive, and quite delightful. What’s more, everyone knows them - especially this one.
God Save The Queen: British patriotism at its best, God Save The Queen is an elegant, powerful, and well known classic. A sure fire way to encourage emotion from even the most composed of British citizens.
Intermediate songs for Tuba players
For the more confident Tuba players, we move onto the intermediate level songs, where some iconic classical pieces can be found, including:
Mozart’s Turkish March: widely known for its elegant, leading piano which seems to skip effortless across A Major, Mozart’s Turkish March is a wonderfully popular starting piece for the budding Tuba Player, ready to move on to the slightly more challenging piece.
Scott Joplin’s The Entertainer: a Piano rag from the turn of the century (1902 to be precise), The Entertainer seems to be one of those timeless pieces of music that we’re all almost born knowing; played by school children in the music studio and light entertainers on out-of-tune Pianos placed in the corner of pubs, it’s a great way to get people smiling!
House of the Rising Sun: The Animal’s House of the Rising Sun is an iconic song from the 1960s describing life in New Orleans. Although it’s not a classical piece of traditional or elegant music, it embodies classic rock & roll in a way only The Beatles could rival.
Challenging songs for seasoned Tuba players
Only to be attempted by the most confident Tuba players, the following suggestions on the best songs for Tuba may take a while to truly master, but are sure to be so worth it when you finally do!
Rimsky Korsakov’s Flight of the Bumblebee: a member of The Five, and considered a genuine master of the orchestra, Russian composer Korsakov’s Flight of the Bumblebee has been presented in many a variation across so many instruments - the Piano, the Clarinet, and even the Tuba. Mastering this incredible, phenomenally fast piece of music will give any musician a feeling of total and utter accomplishment.
Saint-Saens’ The Elephant: from Carnival of Animals, Saint-Saens’ The Elephant is a strong and almost regal piece of music that perfectly captures the playful dignity of the mighty elephant. A surprisingly emotional song full of complex peaks and troughs.
Essentially, there are so many wonderful pieces of music that can be expertly adapted for the surprisingly versatile Tuba, that it’s really up to you to decide which is best. Whatever you decide upon, it’s sure to move even the toughest of crowds.
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