MOVE

(ASC CD CS21)

Tubalaté were formed in 1991 and consist of Paul Walton and John Powell (euphoniums), Ryan Breen and Ian Anstee (tubas). They are a well-established group, whose programmes mix well-known favourites with new exciting commissions.

Move captures this mix very well, with the traditional element represented by 3 Negro Spirituals (arr. Timothy Moore) and March – FroT (FroT stands for Friends of Tubalaté) by Simon Kerwin. A good arrangement by Peter Smalley of J S Bach’s Fugue in G minor and a couple of jazz inflected works, St James Infirmary and Just a Closer Walk, both well arranged by Michael Forbes.

Pascal’s Victim by Frederick Naftel seemed the most exciting of the new works presented here. In three movements, it catches your attention right from the start with the opening chords and cascading notes. The second movement is by contrast slow and sustained, with a creepy melody, which steadily gets higher, while the harmonies are pungent and menacing. The third movement returns to the mood of the opening with its insistent motor rhythms, before ending with an accelerando.

Equally innovative is Move by Matthew Davidson, and I also enjoyed Prayer before the Close of Day by David Solomons. Both composers are new to me and I shall look out for more of their work.

The playing on the CD is excellent and I can thoroughly recommend it because it has plenty of variety, colour and interest.