„Grand Concerto 4 Tubas“ World premiere November 9th, 2011

Work on the Grand Concerto 4 Tubas started in February 2009, it was completed in August 2010. The opus has been written exclusively for the Melton Tuba Quartet, it is the historic first original composition for tuba quartet and symphony orchestra. The concerto has four movements to present a large musical variety.
The introducing movement, the Intrade, is the longest and most important movement of the opus. It introduces the heroic, powerful and high-energy sound possibilities of the ensemble as well as of the single musicians. As in the whole opus I put more focus on the fact to hear the quartet sound as a whole unity than to present the single soloists. But here and there, I wanted to give the public the possibility to meet the individuals by their music and sometimes to split the ensemble into smaller groupings, to experience the constrasts of colour, dynamics and energy.
The Scherzo was intended to show the lighter side of the big brass instruments in the hands of artists. Those instruments have a much wider range in sound scope, dynamics and expression than commonly assumed. According to a wide spread cliché they are weighty and clumsy – what of course, on no account is true. Tuba players don’t love anything more than to open the ears of the listeners for everything a tuba really can offer.
By nature, the ballad as slow movement of the opus presents especially the sonorous, lyric and melodious qualities as well as the vocal nature of the quartet. In contrast to the orchestra repertoire, where the main focus is on strength and force of the big brass, here the beautiful sides of the tuba are demonstrated.
The final movement Tango – Tarantella has to dance and to finish the piece of music with an exciting and amusing ending. The opportunity is given to every musician to have his individual last word.
The auditory can take home the surprise to have experienced sounds and energies which result from the combination of a tuba quartet with a symphony orchestra.
My cooperation with the Melton Tuba Quartet was very pleasant, procreative and inspiring. Special thanks go to the ensemble for creating this music together with me. Moreover, I thank the Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra  and the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra – Bavarian State Philharmonic Orchestra for doing the quartet and its members the honor with this uniquely new opus.

John D. Stevens
Madison, Wisconsin, USA,