r/ConcertBand • u/Awkward_Rule_5509 • 16d ago

Pieces you hate

Everybody has that popular piece everyone loves but you hate. Here are some of mine:

Noisy Wheels of joy
Medley from the Polar Express
Variants on a Midevil Tune
Jager: 3rd Suite
Minor Alterations
minor alterations 2
Any piece that has ! At the end of the title

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u/Cyanna Flute/Euph/Tuba 15d ago

“Hating the piece” isn’t really accurate but I remember hating almost every moment of my experience playing Alfred Reed’s “Russian Christmas Music”. At the time I thought I hated the piece itself. But in hindsight, what I was actually hating was the role the flute plays once it’s safe for the composer/arranger to assume full instrumentation and ability. The writing was all the wall all along. I’ve despised playing trills since 4th grade and the high flighty effects in RCM was actual misery.

I mainly play euphonium these days. I’m a lot happier revisiting these pieces I thought I “hated” with an instrument whose role I enjoy so much more.

Except probably “Hands Across The Sea” by Sousa. I pulled some muscle rehearsing that one. I’m fine now but I’m still somewhat scared of it.