New Recording...

[Mikelynch]

I was also going to post on this recording. I just bought this at ITEC and had the opportunity to listen to it last week.

IMHO this is the most enjoyable tuba recording since Dave Zerkel's, and one of the most unique. The entire recording consists of lyrical pieces with a contemplative mood to them. Thus, as John intended, it is a great listenng experience when one is in the mood for that genre. John plays the pieces beautifully (no suprise there), and expands at least my exposure to lovely pieces to play.

In the duets with euphonium, I found the arrangements particularly enjoyable. In several places, the euphonium stays in a relatively constant tessitura, while the tuba plays both substantially below, and substantially above, the euphonium line, with great effectiveness.

I had several long flights last week, and found myself listening to
Reverie repeatedly. I highly recommend it.

Mike Lynch

[Steve Marcus]

I originally purchased this recording because I had performed John Stevens' Elegy for Tuba, and I was curious how the piece would be interpreted by the composer himself.

I also truly relate to that "something special" that occurs when a father makes music with his daughter, as John and Katie obviously experience. My daughter is entering Chicago College of the Performing Arts at Roosevelt University this fall (voice); her dad was her beaming accompanist at her auditions.

BTW, there is a very active contributor to this BBS who also has a daughter named Katie who is doing great things musically...

Mike Lynch wrote:

IMHO this is the most enjoyable tuba recording since Dave Zerkel's, and one of the most unique.

I own Dave's CD, and it is wonderful. Another unique recording that I enjoy is Sumner Erickson's CD of the Etudes by Vasiliev. It may seem strange that a collection of études is soothing. But I am not aware of any other recent solo tuba recording where the entire contents are recorded on a CC contrabass tuba. It's refreshing. Erickson lends these études a warm, fuzzy, comfortable, "big cushy armchair" presentation.

[David Zerkel]

Mike Lynch wrote:

IMHO this is the most enjoyable tuba recording since Dave Zerkel's, and one of the most unique.

I own Dave's CD, and it is wonderful. Another unique recording that I enjoy is Sumner Erickson's CD of the Etudes by Vasiliev. It may seem strange that a collection of études is soothing. But I am not aware of any other recent solo tuba recording where the entire contents are recorded on a CC contrabass tuba. It's refreshing. Erickson lends these études a warm, fuzzy, comfortable, "big cushy armchair" presentation.

Thank you both for the kind words! I agree with both of you that John's new CD is a really great recording!

My next CD project will be entirely on CC tuba and will be geared toward developing players. The rep will be the solo material that is most frequently encountered by high school students and young undergrads. Here's the tentative plan:

Marcello- Sonata in F Major
Hartley- Unaccompanied Suite
Haddad- Suite
Bencriscutto- Concertino
Vaughan Williams- Six Studies in English Folksong
Capuzzi- Andante and Rondo
Lebedev- Concert in one movement

Hopefully, this will be out in about 12 months!

Best,
DZ

[Steve Marcus]

Great idea, Dave! The last such recording was completed many years ago by Ron Davis and, to my knowledge, was only issued on cassette in the "SoloPro" series.

Will you have the UGA band/orchestra join you on the Bencriscutto and the Lebedev (the Haddad probably sounds best with its original piano accompaniment)?