James M. Stephenson

Tuba Concerto

2 trumpets, horn, trombone and tuba solo

I wrote this piece because brass quintet tubists often complain that they don't get their share of the limelight. In this piece, even though it only lasts ten minutes, they can demonstrate their musical talent and technique.
The concerto was written for tubist James Jenkins for the occasion of a concert entitled 'Tropicool', where the presenters had specifically asked me to include a little Latin flavor. This I did only in the first movement, and merely a sprinkle at a time. The rest of the piece includes a lyrical Ballade and concludes with a Dance with odd meters and syncopations, as a challenge to a possible dancer.
Although the piece is conceived as an ongoing dialogue between the solo part and the rest of the ensemble, I think that tubists will find a lot more enjoyment here than in their regular role...
James Stephenson III