The Concerto in F Minor for Bass Tuba and Orchestra by British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams was written in 1954 for Philip Catelinet, principal tubist of the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO), who together gave the premiere on 13 June 1954 with Sir John Barbirolli conducting.[1] The same musicians made the work’s first recording that same year.[2] This concerto was the first concerto written for solo tuba.[3]
Composition and history
While at first viewed by critics as the eccentric idea of an aging composer, the concerto soon became one of Vaughan Williams' most popular works and an essential part of the tuba repertoire.[4]
^Laffler, William D. (29 April 1978). "Tuba concerto for 'oom-pah' lovers". Mansfield News Journal. p. 16.
^Parmenter, Ross (8 November 1955). "A Tuba Concerto: Bell Plays New Work by Vaughan Williams". New York Times. p. 37.
^Arlen, Walter (20 December 1966). "Tuba Concerto Hit at Philharmonic". The Los Angeles Times. pp. 14V.
^Ottaway, Hugh (July 1973). "Vaughn Williams: Overture, The Wasps; Three Portraits from The England of Elizabeth; Tuba Concerto; Violin Concerto. John Fletcher/James Buswell/LSO/Pr". The Musical Times. 114 (1565): 711. doi:10.2307/956495.