Julien-François Zbinden

Tuba Concerto

Some explanations by the composer:
'I chose to employ a medium sized orchestral instrumentation to create a larger sound palette for the solo instrument, and I have also used the traditional concerto form with a slow movement set between two lively outer movements.
'The first movement Allegro is very rhythmical and offers the soloist two cadenzas - opening and finalizing - to express his fantasy, while the second movement Lento gives the tuba the material to demonstrate the instrument's lyrical potential. The last movement Vivace e leggero serves as a vehicle to demonstrate the soloist's virtuosity.
In this music I have used both contrasting and homogeneous instrumental groupings, which is common in jazz music and which often creates polytonal structures without disturbing the clarity of the musical discourse. The result is a light and delicate work that should delight any audience.'
Julien-François Zbinden
(http://www.jfzbinden.ch)

World premiere: 4 and 6 of September 2015, first concert of the season at the Kulturcasino in Bern (Switzerland) with Daniel Schädeli, solo tuba, and the Bern Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mario Venzago.
The work was commissioned by the Bern Symphony Orchestra.