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)
No comments:
Post a Comment