Bough, Thomas - Suite Tuba

with Piano; Suite Tuba is dedicated to Sam Pilafian, the tuba player and founding member of the Empire Brass Quintet. The four movement composition represents one of the most substantial works for solo tuba and concert band in the last decade. This work was written by a tuba player for tuba players. Each movement represents the musical character of the tuba in a different light. The first movement juxtaposes the rhythmic complexity of shifting asymetric meters with a conga-supported fusion jazz melody. The second movement offers the soloist a chance to improvise and take the melodic lead on the Dixieland classic tune "That's a Plenty." The third movement, Lullaby, allows the melodic character of the tuba to take center stage. The fourth movement weaves themes from the previous three movements into original material to bring the composition to a stirring climax.