John Stevens

Liberation Of Sisyphus

The 'Liberation of Sisyphus' was composed in spring of 1990. It was commissioned by and written especially for Roger Bobo. The work was premiered, with Roger Bobo as soloist and the Tokyo Bari-Tuba Ensemble conducted by the composer, at the International Tuba/Euphonium Conference in Sapporo, Japan in August, 1990. Mythology tells us that Sisyphus was condemned by Zeus to spend all eternity pushing a heavy stone up a hill. His hypothetical 'liberation' is depicted in this virtuoso work for solo tuba and eight-part tuba/euphonium ensemble. John Stevens