OVERDRIVE (2023) - for Tuba Quartet
OVERDRIVE is an energetic work for tuba quartet commissioned by Brendan Ige and the Low Key Tuba Quartet in the Fall of 2023. The objective with OVERDRIVE was to create a challenging, engaging, and exciting new work for tuba quartet that highlights the strengths and abilities of the commissioning ensemble’s members but is also accessible to other advanced quartets.
OVERDRIVE consists of four main sections. The first “With fire” introductory segment begins with an immediately intense motive in the euphoniums before being joined by powerful, more sustained melodic content in the tubas. The second section, notated as “Mechanical”, provides an abrupt switch to machine-like motives in mixed meter and features the euphonium in two brief, distinct solos. The third “Lush” section features tuba 1 with a flowing and expressive solo mostly accompanied by euphonium 2 who traverses between the low and pedal range (A-flat 2 down to pedal A-flat) at soft dynamics. The final “Barn Burning!” section takes the introductory material and turns up the intensity meter up to 100. At a faster tempo of quarter note equals circa 156, this final segment flies by with all four parts navigating between highly technical passages and huge interjectory hits in the low/pedal registers. The piece ends with a climactic restatement of the opening motive and intense “rips” in the euphoniums and tuba 2 to a final open-fifths power chord.
Duration: Approx. 6 minutes 30 seconds
Difficulty: 4.5/5
Format: PDF score and parts (EETT) and WAV file of a reference recording performed by the Low Key Tuba Quartet
Copyright © 2023 Ian Lester