Curtis Symphony Orchestra Tuba Concerto Jennifer Higdon (b. 1962) “Low brass players are always fun to work with …They bring an infectious ere is a reason why Jennifer Higdon’s concertos joy to everything they play, which in have garnered so much praise: eir depth and itself is inspiring.” attention to detail grows from the enormous – JENNIFER HIGDON amount of time and energy she has spent getting to know the timbres, ranges, and technical capabilities of each and every instrument of the orchestra. is process began early on in her want other brass instruments playing at the same career, but gathered steam when the Philadelphia time as the tuba, and there have to be enough Orchestra asked her to contribute a major work breaks to breathe and rest the embouchure.” to its Centennial Commissions project, resulting e Tuba Concerto was commissioned by in the Concerto for Orchestra. Similarly, when the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Royal Scottish writing her Percussion Concerto she solicited National Orchestra, and the Curtis Institute copious feedback from soloist Colin Currie. of Music, where soloist Craig Knox serves on His recording of the work won it a Grammy Award the faculty. He and the Pittsburgh Symphony for best contemporary classical composition. performed the premiere on March 16, 2018, A Curtis Institute of Music alumna who joined with Robert Spano on the podium. is the school’s faculty in 1994, Dr. Higdon was performance marks the Philadelphia premiere deeply familiar with the artistry of fellow alumna of the work. e composer has written the Hilary Hahn (once a student in her musical following about the concerto: studies classes) while writing the Violin Concerto “e latter half of the 20th century has that won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize in Music; and seen the virtuosity of tuba players develop to with that of Curtis President and CEO Roberto the point where they can play the most agile lines and the most beautiful melodies with Díaz, for whom she crafted the Viola Concerto great sensitivity and real power. As a composer that won her second Grammy Award for best this is a dream, because there’s a certain contemporary classical composition. inspiration that is to be derived from the It was during the recent creation of the idea of creating new repertoire for excellent Tuba Concerto (for Pittsburgh Symphony performers who are hungry for just such a thing. is concerto explores various aspects Principal Tuba Craig Knox) and the Low Brass of this gentle giant of an instrument, from Concerto (for the principal players of the fast-moving notes, to slow-moving melodic Chicago Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, lines. In addition to big sections where the and the Baltimore Symphony) that Dr. Higdon tuba gets to soar over the orchestra playing got to know the ins and outs of writing solo full-out, I also have the soloist engaged in parts for brass instruments. Composing for tuba chamber-like settings with colleagues. It is a thrill to be able to bring to the front of and orchestra is surprisingly complex, she said the stage the gift of a performer who usually in an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . sits at the back of the ensemble…and to “It’s important for the orchestra to be thin, to showcase the extraordinary skill of the tubist.” clear the octave where the tuba is playing. I didn’t 19 minutes Q 3 movements 13.