Saturday, December 15, 2012

Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra by Ron Newman

Philip Sinder, professor of tuba and euphonium at the Michigan State University College of Music, recently presented two performances of the exciting Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra, written by Ron Newman. The premiere performance was held on January 27, 2012, on the MSU campus, with the Michigan State University Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leon Gregorian. Sinder had an additional opportunity to perform the work on September 30, 2012, in Big Rapids, Michigan, with the Grand Rapids Symphony and conductor John Varineau, as a part of the annual TubaBach festival.


L-R, Leon Gregorian, Ron Newman, Jere Hutcheson, and Philip Sinder

Composer Ron Newman, a member of the faculty at Michigan State University, has written several works featuring the tuba. His compositional approach merges elements of classical and jazz styles in a fresh and unique manner. The tuba concerto is a seventeen-minute work in three distinct movements, with the following titles: 1) "Interactions, with resulting reactions," 2) "Clarity, with a touch of nostalgia," and 3) "Maynard Ferguson played the valve trombone." Set against a liberal dose of percussion effects and grooves, the tubist navigates challenging solo lines and intricate ensemble color voicings throughout the orchestral palette.

The tuba concerto of Ron Newman was written in part to recognize two longtime colleagues at Michigan State University. It is dedicated to composer Jere Hutcheson and celebrates the legacy of conductor Leon Gregorian.

Double Concerto for Euphonium and Tuba by James Grant

As a professional tuba/euphonium duo, SYMBIOSISDUO (Gail Robertson, euphonium and Dr. Stacy Baker, tuba) was enthusiastic to join the consortium, led by Dr. Mark Nelson and Dr. Pat Stuckemeyer, to commission James Grant to write a double concerto for euphonium and tuba with wind ensemble. The concerto is in three movements. The first movement is called "Playground" and, as Grant describes in his program note, the relentless technical challenges may remind the audience of seesaws, sliding boards, and other playground equipment. Grant says that the second movement, "Passage," "is best described as the recollection of a journey," a journey which is followed by the third movement - "Sprint" - which brings the concerto to an exciting close.


James Grant with Stacey Baker, L, and Gail Robertson, R

Dr. Grant was in residence with SYMBIOSISDUO on October 8 and 9, 2012 at Morehead State University in Morehead, KY. Residency activities included a presentation by Dr. Grant on his choral symphony, Such Was the War, based on Walt Whitman's poetry written during the American Civil War when Whitman served as a volunteer nurse. Dr. Grant also gave a presentation on Composition and Business. Robertson directed the MSU Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble in rehearsal of her original composition, A Eupher's Dream for 8 euphoniums and provided her insights into composition versus arranging. The residency culminated in the premiere performance in its final version of Dr. Grant'sDouble Concerto for Euphonium and Tuba and Wind Ensemble by SYMBIOSISDUO with the MSU Symphony Band under the direction of Dr. Richard Miles. SYMBIOSISDUO premiered the version of Dr. Grant's Double Concerto with piano on October 28th, 2012 at Michigan State University on one of Robertson's DMA recitals. (www.jamesgrantmusic.com, www.symbiosisduo.com)