John T. Williams tuba concerto program notes

[ds_le_moulin]

Hi !

I am going to perform the John Williams concerto. For this occasion, I need to write something in the program about the concerto...

I couldn't find much spicy details about the piece...

Does any one has something interesting ?

THanks for your help !

[thevillagetuba]

The following is from Program Notes for the Solo Tuba by Bird.

John Williams (b. 1932)

John Williams is the Music Director of the Boston Pops and composer of many movie soundtrachs, including Star Wars, Return of the Jedi, The Empire Strikes Back, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Indiana Jones.

Tuba Concerto

Seacaucus, NJ: Warmer Brothers Music, 1985
Movements: I. Allegro moderato
II. Andante
III. Allegro molto
Instrumentation: Tuba and Orchestra

In addition to the film music for which he is so widely known, John Williams has written many concert pieces, including two symphonies and concertos for violin and flute. For the 350th anniversary of the city of Boston, he composed the Jubilee 350 Fanfare; and for the Boston Pops he wrote Esplanade Overture and Pops on the March. Additional concert works include Essay for Strings and numerous chamber pieces. The Tuba Concerto, written in 1984-85 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Boston Pops, was premiered on May 8, 1985 by that orchestra with Chester Schmitz, principal tubist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops. The following information about the work appeard in the program booklet for that performance:

The Concerto is laid out in the normal three movements, but with no pause between the movements. The opening "Allegro moderato" introduces the soloist at once against a gently rocking pulse in the strings, harp and upper woodwinds. The tuba's tune is taken up by the other instruments before the tuba introduces a second theme, also in the rocking 12/8 of the opening; this sets off a more elaborate solo passage culminating in an unusual cadenza for the tuba companionably accompanied by all four horns. The opening rocking figure returns for a single brief statement.
An English horn solo introduces the "Andante," [which grows] in lines that are increasingly ornate and finally pass to the solo flute. This, too, climbs expressively in an elegant arc. When the tuba enters with it's own decoreated line, it engages in a brief dialogue with the flute. A new rhythmic section begins [Poco piu mosso, with the tuba syncopated against a steady beat in the orchestra. A return of the opening ideas with the tuba, English horn and flute die away in a sustained high string chord.
The finale begins at once (Allegro molto); here the entire brass section sets up the rhythmic pulse that runs throughout the movement, sometimes in sections for full orchestra, sometimes in quieter dialogue, as between tuba and harp with pizzicato punctuation from strings. The woodwinds and the trumpet choir assert themselves. Then after a full orchestral interjection and one last bit of harp/tuba dialogue, the full orchestra brings in a rousing close.

All of this information is, of course, copyrighted and cannot be reprinted in your program, but it should give you enough of an idea to write your own. I highly recommend this book, which has pretty much every big/popular tuba piece in it.

[thevillagetuba]

All of this information is, of course, copyrighted and cannot be reprinted in your program, but it should give you enough of an idea to write your own. I highly recommend this book, which has pretty much every big/popular tuba piece in it.

This is incorrect. If used on an academic recital, then you could use this, cite it and give credit to the author.

That is true. I made an uninformed assumption that this was with a nonacademic performance.

[Tom]

The following is from Program Notes for the Solo Tuba by Bird.

John Williams (b. 1932)

John Williams is the Music Director of the Boston Pops

I suggest doing some fact checking before reprinting that in ANY program, academic or not. Yes, I understand that the Bird book (which came out in 1993 or 1994) says that [accurate at the time], but program notes for use today should be updated...

John Williams was Principal Conductor of the Boston Pops from 1980-1993. That's 22 years ago.

[thevillagetuba]

The following is from Program Notes for the Solo Tuba by Bird.

John Williams (b. 1932)

John Williams is the Music Director of the Boston Pops

I suggest doing some fact checking before reprinting that in ANY program, academic or not. Yes, I understand that the Bird book (which came out in 1993 or 1994) says that, but program notes for use today should be updated...

John Williams was Principal Conductor of the Boston Pops from 1980-1993. That's 22 years ago.

Yes, I saw that. It's why I posted it as a good start for the OP. The book is not perfect, especially today, but it is a great quick reference for tuba solos.

[ds_le_moulin]

Thanks for your replies ! It's for academic use. But I will have to translate it, so I will adapt and shorten it !

[bort]

The following is from Program Notes for the Solo Tuba by Bird.

John Williams (b. 1932)

John Williams is the Music Director of the Boston Pops and composer of many movie soundtrachs, including Star Wars, Return of the Jedi, The Empire Strikes Back, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Indiana Jones.

Tuba Concerto

Seacaucus, NJ: Warmer Brothers Music, 1985
Movements: I. Allegro moderato
II. Andante
III. Allegro molto
Instrumentation: Tuba and Orchestra

In addition to the film music for which he is so widely known, John Williams has written many concert pieces, including two symphonies and concertos for violin and flute. For the 350th anniversary of the city of Boston, he composed the Jubilee 350 Fanfare; and for the Boston Pops he wrote Esplanade Overture and Pops on the March. Additional concert works include Essay for Strings and numerous chamber pieces. The Tuba Concerto, written in 1984-85 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Boston Pops, was premiered on May 8, 1985 by that orchestra with Chester Schmitz, principal tubist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops. The following information about the work appeard in the program booklet for that performance:

The Concerto is laid out in the normal three movements, but with no pause between the movements. The opening "Allegro moderato" introduces the soloist at once against a gently rocking pulse in the strings, harp and upper woodwinds. The tuba's tune is taken up by the other instruments before the tuba introduces a second theme, also in the rocking 12/8 of the opening; this sets off a more elaborate solo passage culminating in an unusual cadenza for the tuba companionably accompanied by all four horns. The opening rocking figure returns for a single brief statement.
An English horn solo introduces the "Andante," [which grows] in lines that are increasingly ornate and finally pass to the solo flute. This, too, climbs expressively in an elegant arc. When the tuba enters with it's own decoreated line, it engages in a brief dialogue with the flute. A new rhythmic section begins [Poco piu mosso, with the tuba syncopated against a steady beat in the orchestra. A return of the opening ideas with the tuba, English horn and flute die away in a sustained high string chord.
The finale begins at once (Allegro molto); here the entire brass section sets up the rhythmic pulse that runs throughout the movement, sometimes in sections for full orchestra, sometimes in quieter dialogue, as between tuba and harp with pizzicato punctuation from strings. The woodwinds and the trumpet choir assert themselves. Then after a full orchestral interjection and one last bit of harp/tuba dialogue, the full orchestra brings in a rousing close.

All of this information is, of course, copyrighted and cannot be reprinted in your program, but it should give you enough of an idea to write your own. I highly recommend this book, which has pretty much every big/popular tuba piece in it.

Well now that it's been copied and pasted onto TubeNet, just cite TubeNet.

[barry grrr-ero]

Nobody of any real concern is going to know or care, much less prosecute. But I would suggest shortening it quite a bit - just leave the essential stuff. Sometimes less is more. Also, cover yourself by giving credit.