Sonata for Tuba and Piano

Duration - 8 minutes.

While working on this piece, it struck me how often people had strange ideas about tuba. Some were surprised at the ensemble – tuba and piano seemed unusual, somehow. Others were surprised that I would write a tuba solo at all. Doesn’t the tuba only play in bands and orchestras? This sonata became a response to these thoughts, to show not only how capable tubas (and tubists) are, but also how beautiful tubas can be.

Tuba is enormously flexible and agile, but it can also sing. Written in the summer of 2016, this sonata seems to have a seasonal character like many of my other sonatas. It’s summer music – relaxed, easy-paced, but filled with a certain longing.

Commissioned by Scott Tegge.