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Zur Tuba Concerto
Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 9:16 pm
by Steve Marcus
As I type this, WFMT is broadcasting a concert by the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. On the program will be Shemuel Adi Hershko as soloist in the Tuba Concerto by Menachem Zur.
The range is from a low Db (sustained for a LONG time, perhaps with circular breathing or just reduced dynamic level) up to Bb above the staff (there may even have been a passing high C played for a brief second in a fast passage). The tuba part hangs above the staff for a great portion of the piece.
This is no cakewalk. This is extremely virtuosic playing.
Has anyone besides Mr. Hershko performed it? Any comments on the piece?
Re: Zur Tuba Concerto
Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 9:29 pm
by Steve Marcus
From hearing the comments on the broadcast about Menachem Zur:
Born in Israel, 1942. Graduated the Jerusalem Rubin Academy of Music & Dance. In the States he received degrees from the Mannes College of Music, Sarah Lawrence College and Columbia University where he was awarded the D.M.A. degree in 1976. Zur has taught at Queens College, CUNY, New-York University and is now a member of the Jerusalem Rubin Academy faculty. Dr. Zur has composed numerous works, including chamber, vocal, symphonic, electronic and one full-scale opera. He was awarded several awards, among them is “The Guggenheim Fellowship” in 1981,and in 1991-92 he received four national prizes, as well as several commissions. Most of his works have been published in the USA and Israel. His orchestral works have received numerous performances by the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra and the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra.
Interestingly enough, Adi Hershko, who is the Principal Tuba of the Israel Philharmonic, was asked to perform the solo because the Principal Tuba of the Jerusalem Symphony declined to be a soloist on religious grounds.
Re: Zur Tuba Concerto
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:25 pm
by Yutakatuba
Ever since I saw the description on the Tuba Source Book, I've been really curious about the concerto by Zur, and hoping to see the music, play it and hear it played. The TSB said it resembles Berg Violin Concerto. Did you like the piece? If you don't mind, can you give me more description about the piece?
Yutaka
Re: Zur Tuba Concerto
Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 12:43 am
by Steve Marcus
The comparison to the Berg Violin Concerto is valid. There is not a very strong key center throughout much of the Zur Concerto, although it is not completely atonal. It does exploit a great range of the bass tuba, but the style of playing is fairly conventional (i.e., there are no multiphonics, mouthpiece popping, valve clicking, etc.).
Personal impression without benefit of repeated listenings nor access to the score:
As a player, the Zur is not one of the first three tuba concertos on which I would invest the time to bring to performance level. But as an audience member, I would not shy away from hearing this piece again. If nothing else, it is a fine testament to the highly skilled playing of the soloist (in this case, Mar Herschko).
Re: Zur Tuba Concerto
Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 11:43 am
by Chris Smith
I only caught the last movement of the piece when it was on WFMT but I was very interested as a listener. I wish I had known about the performance before so I could have listened to the whole thing.
Re: Zur Tuba Concerto
Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 11:49 am
by Chris Smith
During a short search about the concerto I found that this piece is being broadcast again by the Oregon radio station KWAX on Sunday.
http://www.kwax.com/programming.php?day=7" target="_blank For anyone that is interested.
Chris
Re: Zur Tuba Concerto
Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 4:55 pm
by Yutakatuba
Seems like they have online broadcasting as well. Thanks guys for the info!
Yutaka
Re: Zur Tuba Concerto
Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 12:02 am
by Yutakatuba
I just heard the Zur Tuba Concerto via streaming of the Oregon radio station. Wow, what a playing! The piece is really does remind me of Berg at certain spots---atonal (or very chromatic) with feel of tonality. The piece is certainly not an easy piece to play or listen to, and I really would like to listen to it again or learn it before I can make a judgement of like or not. Nonetheless, it is a major piece for tuba, and I am really glad that I got to hear it played . Thanks Steve for the info, and thanks Chris for letting me know about the Oregon radio station. Anyone else got to hear it?
Yutaka