Title: Sonata for Tuba and Piano: Shamanic Journey
Commission/Dedication: In memory of John Griffiths
Premiere: Details unknown
Composer: Barbara York
Publisher: Cimarron Music Press
Year: 2007
Program notes from the composer:
John Griffiths was in many ways a “Shaman of the Tuba.” He spent a lifetime pushing the envelope of what could be done on the tuba and exploring the vast realms of his own musical consciousness to bring back information and inspiration to share with others.
As I was writing this piece, John passed away. I had already been having some rather mixed imagery for the piece and had already planned to subtitle it “Shamanic Journey.” On one hand I was seeing the opening measures as the voice of the Guide/Facilitator of Consciousness that invites one on a journey into the netherworld of consciousness to explore and bring back inspiration for others. On the other hand, I was also hearing it as the voice of the mythical Charon, the ferryman that takes one across the River Styx to the land of the dead. As I finished the piece, and in light of John’s death I began to feel that perhaps those two images were not so incompatible.
In the 1st movement we hear the voice of the Guide/Charon calling us “and John” to undertake yet another journey into the realms of consciousness. The 2nd movement depicts the somewhat tumultuous boat ride across the waters of the “between worlds”, a place where we have been before, on that is energetic, even unpredictable and somewhat unsafe, but still familiar and not particularly frightening in that respect.
In the opening measures of the 3rd movement we hear again the voice of the Guide/Charon, calling to reawaken us from our journey. But this time, for John, it is not to reawaken him back into the world from which he has come, the world he has shared with us. This time it is to set him on the farther shore, the culmination of his last Shamanic journey, the one from which he will not return to us.
Some may find the last section of the 3rd movement to be placed a little high in the tuba range. To be honest, that is still somewhat of a compromise in its homage to John Griffiths. John would have probably taken the melody in its original key and simply played it an octave higher. However, for the sake of better writing and in deference to the rest of us poor mortals who are not so daring and such workers of miracles, I have at least pushed the envelope within reasonable limits.
In Memory of John Griffiths, 2007.
-Barbara York
Author assessment and pedagogical considerations:
Barbara York’s first sonata for tuba was born out of an organized commission by Bryan Doughty of Cimarron Music Press in 2007. Doughty and his business partner, Lew Buckley, led a commission of four work from York. One of which was her first tuba sonata.
There are a number of challenges in this piece, starting with the accompaniment. The performer should plan to put together several practice sessions with the pianist to have a solid grounding in the collaborative process. There are some significant rhythms that will pose a challenge, but with diligent practice and focus it is easily attainable. Lastly, the last section of the third movement is in the high tessitura of the tuba. The piece is undoubtedly an artist level work that takes the performers and listener on a Shamanic journey.
Recordings:
