PROGRAM NOTES Andante and Rondo, Antonio Capuzzi (1755-1818) Originally composed as a concerto for double bass and orchestra, Andante and Rondo has been adapted for other instruments and is a popular piece for the tuba. Andante and rondo highlights the tubists lyrical and technical ability. Andante is a beautiful cantabile followed by musical passages that emphasize technical precision and agility. Rondo is set up in Ternary Form and moves to a slower B section filled with beautiful melodic lines and modulations.
Serenade No. 12, Vincent Persichetti (1915-1987) American composer Vincent Persichetti, a well-known figure of the 20th century, began playing the piano at an early age and went on to become a renowned pianist, teacher, and composer. He made substantial contributions to wind band literature by creating music that alternates between dreamy and melancholy moods and merging expressive melodies and sharp rhythms. The striking contrasts between movements and the often absurd shifts in each movement give this unaccompanied tuba piece's music its unique character. These changes include transitions between loud and gentle, light and heavy, and a variety of different characteristics. The tubist can add their unique artistic flair to each passage because the composer provides plenty of leeway for interpretation.
Concerto In One Movement, Alexander Lebedev ( 1924-1993) Alexander Lebedev was a Russian tuba player, teacher, and composer throughout the middle of the 20th century. While nothing is known about his early years, it is known that he served in the Russian army for a year in the 1940s until leaving after suffering a wound during what is likely World War II. He would go on to play in the military band after recovering, and he ultimately went on to study tuba and music theory in music school. His studies lead him to teaching tuba at Moscow State Conservatory where he took up composition, expanding the repertoire for the tuba. His Concerto No. 1, also referred to as the Concerto in One Movement, reduces the typical concerto's three movements to just one. He still uses sonata form elements throughout despite the condensed form. The artwork conveys a calming and enigmatic feeling that are contrasted by technical and lyrical developments.