This is the latest CD
from a talented ensemble who are celebrating 10 years of playing together. Each
ensemble has its own ministry, and Tubalaté has endeavoured to create a
contemporary and quality repertoire for the tuba-euphonium quartet. The CD
contains music by a number of composers who have written for Tubalaté over the
years, and it is an interesting co-operative idea. Composers were invited to be
involved, and were asked to make a contribution towards recording and
production costs. In addition, composers on the CD include the designer of the
website (Tubalate) and the MD of
Da Capo Music who publishes some of the group’s music. Other pieces are to be
published by Breakthrough Music (www.breakthroughmusic.co.uk).
The CD contains many
different styles, moods, and sounds. There is something here for every
listener, and there are useful references and influences for young composers. I
intend to use some of the works as source materials for GCSE and AS composition
students. Some of the pieces have immediate, even popular appeal, whereas
others require thoughtful considered listening and careful analysis.
Surprisingly (to me at least) there are a variety of different sonorities
possible within this set up and Tubalaté exploit them fully.
My attention was
immediately captured by the dramatic, descriptive sounds of heavy industry
captured in The Heights of Halifax
by Ian McQueen and by the very different but equally northern feel of Fellscape by Stuart Scott. Two works by
Raymond Parfrey (Tributes to Tunesmiths
and Male Voice for Brass) showed him
to be a real tunesmith capable of convincing instrumentations, with a real understanding
of the brass sound. Tubafusion was a
most interesting amalgam of styles with jazz rhythms and harmonies. I was
impressed by Michael Regan’s Quartet
and Peter Crump’s March of the Hare,
and would be interested in hearing more of their work.
There are a plethora
of modal influences. I found David Solomons’ Pieces of Eight most captivating with some interesting effects. Visages (Guto Pryderi Puw), Tears (Donald Bousted) and the title
work, Earth and Moon (Hugh Collins
Rice) were also interesting with unusual playing techniques and effects.