Description
From the “Howard Johnson Tuba Jazz Series edited by Velvet Brown”:
“Testimony” is part of a suite called Witness and Testimony, inspired by the tradition of the black church where interaction with the congregation is encouraged both as Witness and as Testimony.”
Testimony was written in 1991 by Howard Johnson for Gravity. Witness and testimony was first conceived for big band by Johnson and later adapted for Gravity. He often uses this piece for teaching musical concepts at high school and college educational residencies.
Howard Johnson’s jazz tuba ensemble is envisioned as a tuba choir- with tubas in F, E flat, CC, and BB flat- that encourages tuba players to learn to play in the upper register. His charts were originally written for his tuba jazz ensemble, Gravity, formed in 1968 with Howard Johnson as solo lead tuba. The charts can in fact be performed with euphoniums; but he formed his group, made his arrangements and developed this specific instrumentation 50 years ago as a statement about tubas and prefers to hear his arrangements played in this configuration, encouraging tuba players to develop the range required. His most important advice is that whatever instrumentation is used, make it fun and find the best jazz rhythm section!
Score and parts included: lead tuba, tuba 1-6, piano, bass, drum set
