Gustav Holst
The Planets — tenor tuba part
The most famous orchestral outing for the euphonium, hiding in the score under its orchestral alias, the tenor tuba.
| Composer | Gustav Holst |
|---|---|
| Composed | 1916 |
| Era | 20th century |
| Type | Orchestral Excerpt |
| Difficulty | advanced |
| Available scorings | Orchestra |
| Duration | ~5 minutes |
| Clef | bass, tenor |
| Originally for | Tenor Tuba |
| Technical demands | tenor-clef reading, projection, rhythmic precision, lyricism |
| Good for | orchestral audition, excerpt study |
| Publisher | Various (1921) |
Holst scored The Planets with a tenor tuba part that is, in practice, a euphonium part — and it is the instrument’s single most recognisable orchestral appearance. The exposed writing in “Mars” and the soaring big tune in “Jupiter” are standard audition excerpts for orchestral euphonium work, read at concert pitch in bass and tenor clef. This is the entry showing how the tenor-tuba name works in a real score.
Sources
- Clifford Bevan, The Tuba Family (2000)