Tuba and Saxophone Quartet

Recording by:

“Danças Para Um Amigo” 2005  (Dances for a Special Friend) was commissioned by and written for the Portuguese Tuba virtuoso, Sergio Carolino. It is for Solo Tuba, Saxophone Quartet and Vibraphone (with percussion). There are four contrasting movements. Rapidinho is a fast, odd-meter romp. Much of the movement is in 5/8 with much rhythmic overlapping between the instruments. It ends in a vamp and fade. Vagaroso is in a slow 11/8 meter with much contrapuntal interaction between the tuba and vibraphone. The saxophones play a more accompaniment role. Brincadeiras (scherzo) is a jazzy alla breve with lots of syncopation. There is an optional improvised section for the solo tuba and tenor sax with modal and augmented chord changes. The “groove” for this movement was inspired by the theme music to the US PBS Charlie Rose Show. The finale movement, Correrias (chase), is a fast, driving virtuoso movement for all the instruments. The rhythm is a constantly changing 3/4- 6/8 feel propelling to a final double high Bbtuba note. “Danças….. was written with the special talents of Sr. Carolino in mind. His ability to play technicallychallenging and improvisational music is very unique.

Jim Self is a Los Angeles free-lance musician, a veteran of thousands of motion pictures, television shows and records, and tuba soloist on many prominent movies. He is Principal Tubist with the Pasadena and Pacific Symphonies, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and the Los Angeles Opera and Opera Pacific orchestras. His compositions and arrangements include works for solo tuba, brass quintet, and other brass and woodwind chamber music.

More about Jim and his recordings can be found here:

Basset Hound Music - http://www.bassethoundmusic.com