TubeNet

The whole thread about the "tuba accepted seriously by public" thing got me to thinking. We do have our challenges, but I guess I am a cockeyed optimist, and I do think we will get there....eventually.

The point is well taken about the violin having such a variety of tone colors, compared to the tuba, but I would remind people that many of the various techniques that fiddle players employ today, that create those different tones, were not in use early in the violin's existence, but were later developed, over the centuries.

I think we need to keep slugging our way up to the middle!

I think big, public works, are the way to go. Toward that end, I just read a great review of Jennifer Higdon's new violin concerto, and thought to myself: Wow, if we could talk Jennifer into taking on the challenge of writing a great tuba concerto, what a cool thing that would be!

So, anybody know her well enough to pose the question to her???

http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/mc/zoomnews/page80489.html" target="_blank
I was a classmate but haven't seen her since.
This article lists some composers that still teach there, they are also good prospects for you.

No, I only know the violinist she created this concerto for - Hilary Hahn.
http://www.deutschegrammophon.com/cat/s ... NR=4778777" target="_blank

I had the honor of meeting Jennifer Higdon a couple of months ago. She spent a few days at the Hartt School as Composer-in-Residence. The Hartt Wind Ensemble played an new piece by her. In talking with her after the concert, I "mentioned" that the tuba repertoire could use her input!! She teaches at Curtis and said that she ALSO thinks that the tuba rep could use her input!! She's been speaking with a colleague of hers - a certain young lady who plays tuba in the Philadelphia Orchestra - about writing a concerto!!!!!!!

Scott Mendoker
The Hartt School
Philadelphia Brass

I got to hear a percussion piece she wrote a couple of years ago. She would be an asset!