Description
Jim Self writes:
If a piece excites me I like to do various versions for other instruments. This quartet also has an interesting but twisted history. It was originally written for colleagues in the Pacific Symphony and was for Flute, Violin, Viola and Tuba. I later made versions for String Quartet, Saxophone Quartet and now for a quartet of Conical Brass: Cornet, Flugel Horn, Euphonium and Tuba.
It is a one movement work in several sections, starting with a flippant theme that recurs throughout, followed by a rolling waltz section and finally by a rather fast “funky” groove that technically challenges all of the musicians-as the title Tail Spins suggests. The title comes from my other passion-flying. Like much of my music this piece blends commercial styles with classical technique-music that is played so well by my Los Angeles recording musician friends.
Jim Self is a Los Angeles free-lance musician, a veteran of thousands of motion pictures, television shows and records, and tuba soloist on many prominent movies. He is Principal Tubist with the Pasadena and Pacific Symphonies, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and the Los Angeles Opera and Opera Pacific orchestras. His compositions and arrangements include works for solo tuba, brass quintet, and other brass and woodwind chamber music.
More about Jim and his recordings can be found here:
Basset Hound Music – http://www.bassethoundmusic.com
