Title: Nautical Myths and Legends
Commission/Dedication: Written for Josh Calkin, with a consortium of musicians funding the project.
Premiere: October 31, 2020
Composer: Barbara York
Publisher: Cimarron Music Press
Year: 2020
Program notes from the composer:
None.
Interview with the lead commissioner, Josh Calkin:
Author assessment and pedagogical considerations:
This was Barbara York’s last piece for tuba that has been published. This piece is quintessential Barbara York as it tells a story. The first movement, Pirates, is reminiscent of a Sea Shanty with its jovial nature. There are lots of articulation markings that York detailed as a guide to achieve the right character. In the second movement, Mermaids, there are lots of duple rhythms in the tuba part against triplets in the piano accompaniment. The third movement, Ghost Ships, is spooky and opens with the piano creating a ‘mist’ and the tuba playing a foghorn motive. The fourth movement, Sea Monsters, has difficult runs throughout that are not always in a scale-like pattern and should be practiced slowly and with a metronome.
Recordings:
None available, yet.
