Tuba Ensemble

for 2 Tubas:

I. Dance Mix

II. Dark Morning

III. Each Day I Love To Play My Tuba

IV. In The Forest

V. Pirate Song

VI. Read Your Music Carefully

VII. Running Music

VIII. Tubas On Parade

IX. Tuning Duet

X. Your Salmon Fell In The Pickle Juice Learn More

Unaccompanied; published 2006 for the first time Learn More

EETT

This collection of quartets is designed for players who may have had limited experience with small ensemble performance. The ranges are moderate and the rhythms are not complex. Each of the selections offer ensemble and solo or featured passages for all players. Styles, tempos and meters vary from one piece to another. Of course, more advanced players can certainly play and enjoy this set, but the less experienced can have some success with pieces that allow them to concentrate on the musical and ensemble aspects, rather than being slowed by technical elements. These are also designed for the listener’s enjoyment. Enjoy the quartets! Learn More

EETT

This set of quartets is a continuation of a previous set entitled: Ten Easy Quartets for 2 Euphoniums and 2 Tubas (CM5195). As in the previous volume, the intention is to have selections which are varied in style, while avoiding extreme ranges and key signatures, as well as avoiding complex or difficult rhythms. As in the first group, these give an opportunity for those inexperienced with small ensemble playing to develop these skills and feel a sense of accomplishment. To further identify these quartets with the first set, the numbers of the individual pieces begin with eleven and continue. Players and audiences will enjoy these selections. Learn More

10 Trios for Euphonium and Two Tubas is a collection of trios in various styles. By utilizing tubas and a euphonium, a greater range is possible than with either instrument alone, while staying with similar tonal properties. All three instruments are integral in the construction of each selection, and each player is given opportunities to shine. The first four selections could be played together as a suite, but any of the ten can stand alone. The difficulty level ranges from medium to medium difficult. Learn More

"The 12 Days of Christmas" gets a new twist in this version for Tuba Quartet (EETT) titled "12 Daze (of Christmas)". All the days are there plus a little humor as well. Learn More

Originally for French Horn, these duets have been edited by Bryan Doughty and will work for advnaced High School players as well as those in College.

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12 Easy Duets for Tuba is designed with young or inexperienced players in mind who may have limited or no previous experience with duets or chamber music. Rhythms, ranges and key signatures are limited in order to accommodate the player in adjusting to the concept of playing in harmony, as well as developing mutual cooperation necessary in playing a duet. The selections are in a variety of styles, while avoiding faster tempos that could add difficulty without benefit. While written to help instruct, the duets are intended to be performable. A young player can feel a great sense of accomplishment when performing a new (to the player) kind of music, and duets can feel more “safe” than a solo to a young performer. Enjoy the fun of playing duets! Learn More

2 tubas (or 2 bass trombones)

or tuba/bass trombone with downloadable backing tracks (downloads included for both parts 1 and 2) – recorded by Zach Collins

Concert Duets is a collection of 14 arrangements of works by prominent 18^th-century composers, mostly taken from Trio Sonatas. Duet 11 is a Jim Self original work in the Rococo style; and Duets 12, 13 and 14 are arrangements of the three-movements of the Bach Concerto for Two Violins. Included with this edition are play-along recorded tracks by tubist Zach Collins, who also served as editor of the current edition.

I created these duets as Christmas gifts for my tuba playing friends, with the first duet being arranged in 1976.  All 14 of the duets are challenging and fun to play and are especially effective as concert pieces.

As a young musician I had the privilege of playing duets with many of the world’s finest tubists including Harvey Phillips, John Fletcher, Bob Pallansch, Chester, Schmitz, Dan Perantoni, Toby Hanks, Ron Bishop, Winston Morris and Tommy Johnson. I learned more about playing music in these duo sessions than from any other musical activity I have ever experienced. Duets are powerful teaching tools for learning and mastering rhythm, phrasing and intonation and for developing overall musicianship.

Jim Self:

Self (b. 1943) is a Los Angeles free-lance musician, a veteran of thousands of Hollywood motion pictures, television shows and records, and tuba soloist on many prominent movies. His tuba was the “Voice of the Mothership” in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. He is Principal Tuba/Cimbasso with the Pacific and Pasadena Symphonies and the Los Angeles Opera and Hollywood Bowl Orchestras. Formerly he was in The U.S. Army Band and tuba / euphonium professor at the University of Tennessee. He holds a DMA from the USC Thornton School of Music where he is Adjunct Professor of Tuba and Chamber Music. His compositions and arrangements include works for solo tuba, brass quintet, other brass, string and woodwind chamber music, wind band and orchestra. Jim has produced many solo jazz and classical recordings. His music and recordings are available from Potenza Music and www.jimself.com. Jim Self is a Yamaha Performing Artist.

Zach Collins, editor:

Zach Collins is professor of Tuba and Euphonium at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. In 2019, he released his first solo album, Chronicle. It was recognized with the 2021 ITEA Roger Bobo Award for Excellence in Recording for the best Solo Tuba Album.

His interpretation of William Kraft’s Encounters II for Solo Tuba was released on Cambria Master Recordings. Zach performs with Eastern Standard, a horn, tuba, piano trio he formed with Heidi Lucas and Jacob Ertl. The ensemble has released two commercial albums, Eastern Standard and Wanderlust.

Zach regularly performs with the Keystone Chamber Winds, Altoona Symphony Orchestra, and West Virginia Symphony Orchestras. His compositions and arrangements for brass and for tuba and euphonium can be purchased from Cimarron Music and Eighth Note Publications. Zach earned degrees from Texas Christian University and the University of Southern California. His primary teachers have been Richard Murrow, Jim Self, Tommy Johnson, and Norm Pearson. Zach Collins is a Miraphone artist.

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5 Movements Learn More

Duets and Trios Learn More

15 Tuba Trios is a collection of fifteen pieces for three tubas exploring a variety of styles and ranging in difficulty from medium easy to medium difficult. The first part ranges to slightly above the bass clef staff, while the other two voices range to the middle and below the staff. These trios are intended to give players a fulfilling experience with this type of ensemble, which, because of the problems low register harmony can present, require special listening and dynamic adjustment skills. The trios cover a diverse set of styles and are designed to give each of the three players a part that is important and integral to the piece. As tuba trios are more unusual and unfamiliar to many audiences, these pieces are also aimed at interesting and entertaining audiences with the capabilities of tubas. Learn More

2 Euphoniums or 2 Trombones Learn More

15 Very Easy Tuba Duets is a collection designed to help players who might not have had much experience with duets and ensembles. The ranges are limited and rhythms are very simple or in repeated patterns. Key signatures are also within the realm of great familiarity. Intended to be used as a teaching tool for young or inexperienced players, these duets are certainly available and satisfying for performance. A variety of styles are included. Players can gain confidence and satisfaction seeing that they can perform in this type of setting Learn More

20 Duets for Low Brass is perfect for a get together with a friend or for a teacher and student. This set includes pieces from Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, etc.

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Tuba Quartet Learn More

These duets are perfect for a teacher and their students. They would work well in a recital. Learn More

"24 Chorales" for Tuba Quartet (EETT), can either be played by 4 players or the parts can be doubled, tripled, etc. Each part includes the full score so the players can see how their individual part fits in with the group ensemble. This set is great for warming up and practicing group ensemble techniques like tuning, beginning and ending notes together together, etc. Learn More

1. Kyrie - Plainchant

2. Cantiones Duarum Vocum - Lassus

3. Missa Dies Sanctificatus (Kyrie) - Palestrina

These three pieces were arranged for "Capital Thunder", the tuba/euphonium ensemble at Capital University.  While the initial intent was to create practical arrangements for teaching, the pieces work equally well in the concert hall.   The first movement is a plainchant Kyrie with the voices paired in octaves and unisons with each voice getting the chance to play with each other. It is a vehicle for working on intonation, but also captures the mysterious essence of Gregorian chant.  The arrangement is true to the traditional call and response nature of the Kyrie.  The second movement is a two-voice piece, again arranged so that all voices change pairings throughout.  The third movement is a true four-voice setting with total independence for all parts.

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for Gail Robertson and the University of Central Arkansas Tuba & Euphonium Studio Learn More