Bass in the Ballroom Roy Newsome

Bass in the Ballroom was the first tuba solo I ever played. It consists of two parts: a tango and a waltz. The tuba part is of a well-judged virtuosity, and the clear-cut melody and elegant rhythms have made it into one of Roy Newsome's most popular pieces. As a composer and conductor, Newsome (19302011) was an influential figure, especially on the British brass band scene. I met him several times, and he also made an arrangement of the piece for tuba and symphony orchestra of which I gave the first performance at a New Year's concert with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra.

- Program Note by Øystein Baadsvik