While working on this piece, it struck me how often people had strange ideas about tuba. Some were surprised at the ensemble – tuba and piano seemed unusual, somehow. Others were surprised that I would write a tuba solo at all. Doesn’t the tuba only play in bands and orchestras? This sonata became a response to these thoughts, to show not only how capable tubas (and tubists) are, but also how beautiful tubas can be. Tuba is enormously flexible and agile, but it can also sing.
Premiered by Scott Tegge of Gaudete Brass (March 2018); performed by Gene Pokorny, principle tuba of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (May 2018). Hear, see, and buy it on MusicSpoke. http://musicspoke.com/downloads/sonata-for-tuba-and-piano
