FOREWORD FROM JOE oseph Cook is a leading figure in t is always an honour to be asked J the worldwide brass community and I to conduct on a solo CD, especially t’s been 9 years since the release holds the greatest respect with his when the soloist is Eb tuba ace Joe I of my first solo album Debut with peers as one of the finest tuba players of his Cook. Another expat, making new roots in Black Dyke Band in 2008. Debut 2 generation. Norway, it seems that a strong bond between is a chance for me to share some new pieces, Joe and Manger Musikklag has already been lesser known gems and other pieces that I I have known Joseph for over 20 years, formed. have enjoyed playing over the years from the initially as an emerging talent at the National solo tuba repertoire. Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and We had a Friday evening and a Saturday latterly as the finest Eb tuba soloist I have ever morning to put down the material with band. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some great conducted at Black Dyke. Newly written commissions, arrangements young composers willing to write for the of old pop standards and the extremely tuba, which I’m pleased to present on this Joseph has enjoyed phenomenal success on challenging Derek Bourgeois Tuba Concerto album, as well as an unrecorded piece by a the contest platform including winning the made up the repertoire. Manger Musikklag prolific giant of brass band composition. British Open, National and European titles, supported Joe fantastically throughout performing in many of the world’s greatest the session and Joe himself demonstrated There are many great tuba players showing festivals, including at the BBC Proms, and why he is considered one of the best in the the tuba in such a positive light, showcasing has literally toured the world performing in movement. Flexible, versatile and always in their talents, persuading composers to write some of the greatest concert halls (including control. new music, and even writing their own the Royal Albert Hall, Sydney Opera House music, for the instrument they love. This is and KKL Lucerne). my little contribution. I hope you enjoy! WE HAD FUN MAKING THIS Having had the pleasure of conducting Joseph’s CD Debut, it is with great pleasure CD AND WE SINCERELY that I welcome the arrival of this latest solo HOPE YOU ENJOY LISTENING recording featuring many new compositions TO IT. allowing Joseph’s beautiful lyrical sound to sing through whilst showing the dexterity of his virtuoso tuba. Allan Withington Happy listening! Professor Nicholas Childs JOE COOK BIOGRAPHY Stanley Wainwright Memorial Trophy for the On the Run as much in demand conductor and composer Best Soloist at the British Open Brass Band Fredrick Schjelderup (b. 1990) studied for brass bands. orn into a musical family in Championships. composition at the Grieg Academy at County Durham, Joseph started the University of Bergen. He has written As a composer, Roger had a rich and B playing tuba at the age of 12 with As a soloist, Joseph has worked as a guest extensively for brass bands of all levels and very varied output, and was particularly his local secondary school wind band. With artist with many groups, including playing the has had his music played by such bands as skilled writing for smaller ensembles. encouragement from his brass playing parents Vaughan Williams Tuba Concerto with the Royal Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag and Manger These pieces were often used at the many and close family friends, he soon progressed Northern Sinfonia, Sunderland Symphony Musikklag. As an up and coming composer, quartet competitions around the country, on to the Boldon Colliery Brass Band and Orchestra, Black Dyke Band (Festival of his compositions are played throughout including the British Open Solo and Quartet within three years of playing had been Brass), the National Children’s Brass Band Europe by brass bands and his compositions Championships. One of those pieces is Suite accepted into the Ever Ready Brass Band and of Great Britain and as a featured soloist at include Black Holes and the hugely successful in Blue written for the tuba section of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain. the European Brass Band Championships Festivitas. William Davis Construction Band in 1976. Joseph was member of the National Youth Gala Concert and National Brass Band The piece as described as “a quartet in three Brass Band for four years, being Principal Championships Gala Concert at the Royal On the Run was written especially for this shades” for two Eb and two Bb tubas, as Tuba for two years and winner of the Harry Albert Hall, London. In 2008 he released his album, for which the rationale was to compose found in standard brass band orchestration. Mortimer Solo Competition in 1997. He was first solo CDDebut to critical acclaim. Joseph something funky for tuba and brass band, and This recording also features on tuba Vegard also two time semi-finalist in the BBC Young has also commissioned many composers to Fredrick has done just that. The piece starts Aagaard-Nilsen, Sondre Johan Chesney Musician of the Year and the Shell London write for the tuba, including Professor Philip dark and menacing, before becoming more Kvamme and Kristian Grotle. Symphony Orchestra Scholarship. Wilby, Daniel Price and Sandy Smith. driving in style and finishing in the funky 6/8 groove. A real tour-de-force of a composition Nature Boy In 1999, Joseph moved to Leeds to study In 2015, Joseph relocated to Bergen, Norway, for brass band and tuba! Nature Boy was first recorded by Nat King Music and Electrical Engineering at the joining Manger Musikklag as Principal Tuba Cole in 1948, but it has since become a University of Leeds, studying tuba with Brian and is also starting to develop a conducting Suite in Blue jazz standard amongst stars such as Frank Kingsley of Opera North and conducting career, working with bands such as Haukås Roger Payne (1947-2015) was a highly Sinatra, Tony Bennett and even Lady Gaga. with Professor Philip Wilby. At this time he Musikklag (winning SIDDIS Division 2 in respected, colourful and much loved The song was originally written by Eden was also accepted into the world famous Black 2015 and 2016), Oster Brass, Fjell Brass and character in the classical musical community Ahbez, an American songwriter who was Dyke Band. Joseph spent 14 happy years at Tertnes Brass. He is also tuba tutor at the in the North of England. Born in Sussex, deeply influenced by the Californian hippie Black Dyke, from 1999 until 2013, winning International Brass Band Summer School he was member of the National Youth movement in the 1940s. Many instrumental two European, two British Open, four and Musical Director of the Fishburn Band. Brass Band of Great Britain and made his versions have been made of the song, British National, three English National and name as a very successful trumpet player including one by the James Last Orchestra. four Yorkshire Regional titles. He also toured Joseph plays exclusively on this recording on a with ensembles such as the London Festival extensively, to Australia, the USA, Canada, Geneva Symphony Eb Tuba. Ballet, London Philharmonic and Menuhin The extremely talented arranger in residence Bermuda, Switzerland, Norway, Austria Festival Orchestras. He later made Newcastle and horn player with Manger Musikklag, Tina and Sweden. In 2006 he was awarded the his home and was for 20 years the Principal Kvamme, made this arrangement for tuba Trumpet of the Northern Sinfonia and was and brass band for the band’s 2015 Siddis Entertainment Competition programme. a walk on the Millennium Bridge over the Michael Forbes (b. 1973) is an American tuba The piece is accessible in style to the listener Tina’s skills are in high demand, making calm and still river Tyne that runs between the player and composer. A founding member of and contains many quotes and musical nods arrangements of contemporary and classic cities of Newcastle and Gateshead.” These are Isthmus Brass and Sotto Voce tuba quartet, that fans of Bourgeois will be familiar with. pieces that work so effectively for brass band. the composer’s reflections, as the coloured Forbes is also a highly acclaimed soloist and The first movement, Andante Moderato starts in lights from Sage Gateshead on the left shine orchestral musician, and an active teacher a minor triplet meter, before continuing in Variations on a Hungarian Children Song down onto the River Tyne, with the view of and brass clinician. a more optimistic lyrical style. The soprano Variations on a Hungarian Children Song the market stalls on the Newcastle side on the cornet takes a strong role throughout, as originally existed as an improvised concert right, with Tyne Bridge in the background. Quiet Place a contrasting voice to the tuba, and the encore, but went down so well with audiences Quiet Place is a song written by and performed movement finishes with a cadenza. The that Szentpali decided to write it down. Its Simon Oliver (b. 1990) is a former by the 10 time Grammy winning a cappella second movement enjoys a recurring simple structure is something that everyone percussionist with the Black Dyke Band, a gospel music sextet Take 6. In 1988 they melancholic tune in different guises allowing can relate too. The theme is a traditional graduate of Salford University and a winner released their debut album, called Take 6, the tuba to sing. The final movement is a jovial Hungarian children’s song called Boci, boci of the 2012 Roy Newsome Conducting which helped them win two of their 10 steady march, reprising some material from tarka, translated to English as “spotted, Award.