Chamber Music Tuba, Piano
SKU: PR.114422850
Composed by Eric Ewazen.
Set of Score and Parts.
Duration 16 minutes.
Theodore Presser Company
#114-42285. Published by
Theodore Presser Company
(PR.114422850).
ISBN
9781491137550. UPC:
680160691005.
Amid
his beloved catalog of
music for low brass,
NEWBURYPORT SONATA is
Eric Ewazen’s first
recital work for tuba.
The composer’s preface
tells us, “This work
was written during the
year of Covid quarantine,
and it reflects the
strong emotions of that
time. The final movement
is full of energy and a
return to life! There is
almost a march-like feel
to the music, with a
lively and even playful
rhythm as the tuba lines
are bold, strong, and
ultimately energetic and
exciting.” The work is
also available as
NEWBURYPORT QUINTET for
Tuba and String
Quartet.
The
Newburyport Sonata began
life as the NEWBURYPORT
QUINTET for Tuba and
Strings, commissioned by
David Yang, director of
the Newburyport Chamber
Music Festival in
Massachusetts. The
quintet version was
premiered by members of
the festival, featuring
tuba soloist Scott
Devereaux of the U.S.
Army Field Band.I’ve
long been a fan of low
brass instruments and had
the pleasure of attending
the very first
Tuba/Euphonium Convention
at Indiana University,
which was a real
celebration of low brass!
As a former cellist
(I’ve long been a fan
of instruments with a
tenor/bass range, the
world of euphoniums and
tubas) I wanted to write
a piece showcasing both
the wonderful virtuosity
the instrument is capable
of, and also its
expressive lyricism,
which shaped the
NEWBURYPORT QUINTET. This
adaptation for tuba and
piano consequently has a
wide variety of musical
gestures and moods,
exploring the color of
the instruments.The first
movement is in compound
rhythm, with a lilting,
energetic 6/8 feel
supporting a cantabile
line in the Tuba. In a
traditional form, there
are contrasting themes,
sometimes playful and
sometimes heroic, which
share a lively, rolling
rhythm. The second
movement is a heartfelt
appassionata, with the
Tuba sometimes singing in
a soulful minor key, and
sometimes expressing
powerful emotions.This
work was written during
the year of Covid
quarantine, and it
reflects the strong
emotions of that time.
The final movement is
full of energy and a
return to life! There is
almost a march-like feel
to the music, with a
lively and even playful
rhythm as the tuba lines
are bold, strong, and
ultimately energetic and
exciting.In writing this
piece, I collaborated
greatly with Scott, who
played through passages I
wrote and gave me
technical suggestions on
how to flatter the
gorgeous sound of the
Tuba, allowing it to
really sing!The quintet
version is also available
from the publisher,
www.presser.com/114-42284
.