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This is probably a question for the fellow Canadians on the forum, but does anyone know anything about the Kulesha tuba concerto. Where I can get the part, if there is a recording, how difficult it is etc. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Your best bet would be to contact Gary directly. He lives in Toronto and is on faculty at the University of Toronto...they should have his contact info. You could also ask Scott Irvine...I think he's the one the piece was written for.

This is a list of things he is either currently playing in or has in the past and I'm not sure about now.
-Canadian Opera Company (as you said)
-the True North Brass
-the Esprit Orchestra
-the Hannaford Street Silver Band
In addition to the groups listed above, he does a good deal of the studio work in Toronto and is also a very good clinician.

(He also appeared on both Sharon, Lois and Bram's "Elephant Show" and Royal Canadian Air Farce (part of the Royal Canadian Air Farce Symphony Orchestra along with Joe Macerollo on the accordian).

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Tubainsauga wrote:This is probably a question for the fellow Canadians on the forum, but does anyone know anything about the Kulesha tuba concerto. Where I can get the part, if there is a recording, how difficult it is etc. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Try the following resources:

Bio info and list of works:
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/ ... RTU0001895

The composer's homepage:
http://www.garykulesha.com/
This also provides the following contact e-mail:
e-mail Gary Kulesha at mail@garykulesha.com


The Canadian Music Centre:
(source for the music)
http://www.musiccentre.ca/apps/index.cf ... page=1Gary Kulesha, 1954
Concerto for tuba [band version]
Call number: MI 1934 K96co 1979
Duration: 00:17:00
For solo tuba and concert band.
Ms. (photocopy); originals of score and parts in CMC Toronto.
Commissioned by the Scarborough Concert Band through the Ontario Arts Council.
Duration: ca. 17:00
Also exists in version for tuba and orchestra.


And, what follows are the composer's written notes about the Concerto:

Concerto for Tuba

My Concerto For Tuba was commissioned by the Ontario Arts Council for the Scarborough Concert Band in 1979. It was the result of the fact that one of Canada's leading tubists, Scott Irvine, had been a close friend of mine since high school. After seven years of nagging, he finally got me to agree to write this concerto. Although the Scarborough Concert Band actually requested the work, I planned from the start to make this piece available in both band and orchestral forms. I orchestrated simultaneously for both ensembles, and I regard neither as being the "original." In fact, the premiere finally took place with orchestra, with Scott Irvine appearing with the Etobicoke Philharmonic. Less than a month later, Sal Fratia did the band premiere with the U of T Concert Band.

The work is in three movements, of which the first, Prelude and Fugue, is by far the most substantial. In fact, it lasts more than half the piece, and I have authorized separate performances of it. After a brief prelude, the tuba states the fugue subject over a timpani pedal point. The structure from this point is exactly like that of a traditional fugue, with an exposition, episodes, and middle and final entries. The tuba is frequently called upon to do rather elaborate accompanying figures, rather like a cello. After the final set of entries, the tuba has a cadenza which leads to a quiet coda.

The second movement is a Scherzo and Trio that needs no explanation. The Finale is a brief but bravura movement. It is cast in rondo form, and is basically in two halves. After a tutti climax, the tuba basically begins the movement again, with percussion accompaniment. This time, the following episodes lead to a virtuoso display on the tuba over a building tutti. The ending is forceful and definite.
Gary Kulesha.