Salt of the Earth

As I am preparing for a premiere of a new work by the composer Andy Scott I thought it would be a good idea to put up a few pages of the solo part for people to look at. This is a challenging piece but one which I think will be a great addition to the tuba players repertoire. Here are some pages from Salt of the Earth taken form the second and third movements. Also I have included the programme note!! Click on the pages to enlarge them and ENJOY!!




http://www.astute-music.com/online/index.php


A blues-tinged tuba cadenza opens ‘Salt of the Earth’ before moving into a Bulgarian-like folk theme, which alternates with a heavier funk feel. The two multiphonics that frame the movement are inspired by a cadenza that the late great saxophonist Michael Brecker played on the album ‘Some Skunk Funk’. The slower second movement is gospel-influenced, the seven-bar melody being passed around different soloists whilst the solo tuba weaves in and out of the melody in an almost improvisatory way. The third and final movement of ‘Salt of the Earth’ is an explosion of big band latin-jazz, led from the front by the solo tuba!


For more info on the concert featuring this premiere :-

http://www.rncm.ac.uk/component/option,com_events/task,view_detail/agid,538/year,2008/month,01/day,27/Itemid,95/

Castricum in Holland

Happy New Year

Well 2007 was a good year from me with lots of playing and travelling. My 2007 started with a bang with a solo recital at the Bridgewater Hall and the start to 2008 isn't going to be any different!! I will travel out to Holland with euphonium virtuoso Steven Mead on to perform as part of the Dutch Tuba Euphonium Festival It will be a great day of masterclasses and will culminate in a concert on the Saturday evening where Steve and myself will play some solos!!

This will be my first performance in Holland and I'm very much looking forward to it!! On my return from Holland, things don't stop with a lunchtime recital with Tubalate and then a world premiere of a new solo work by Andy Scott.

I commissioned Andy to write a new work for tuba and brass band after recieving an award from the BBC Fame Academy Bursary. I wanted to try and use some of the extended techniques wihich are possible on the tuba to try to create a piece in a very funky style. I recieved a copy of the solo part a few days ago and Andy has certainly done that!! It looks very challenging but will be a great piece to work on.

Over the next few days I hope to include a page or two from the work on the blog for people to have a look at. The work will be given it's world premiere at the RNCM Festival of Brass on 27th January with the Fodens Band.

Happy New Year and have a great 2008!!!

Les