Axe ’Em, Jacks!
J.D. Salas, instructor of tuba and euphonium at Stephen F. Austin State University.NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - J.D. Salas, Stephen F. Austin State University instructor of tuba and euphonium, will present a faculty tuba recital at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 6, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.
The program includes three newly commissioned works for tuba that Salas recently premiered at the 2009 South Central Regional Tuba-Euphonium Conference in Corpus Christi.
Two of the works are the product of SFA's composition studio: "Vocalise" by Stephen Lias, SFA professor of composition; and "Incantation" by Lufkin graduate composition student Garry Wickliffe.
"Steve's piece features the tuba's lyrical abilities along with its wide dynamic contrast," explained Salas. "Garry's shows off the tuba's gregarious nature in the low register and incorporates some of the extended technique that has become common in some 20th century music such as multi-phonics (singing and playing simultaneously) and tongue slaps."
The third commissioned work is a new sonata for tuba and piano by Austin-based composer Kenneth Friedrichs that captures all of the tuba's musical abilities in a four-movement work, Salas continued.
James Pitts, SFA accompanist, will join Salas in performing the music by Lias and Friedrichs.
Scott Harris, SFA assistant professor of percussion, will share the stage with Salas in performing William Penn's "Capriccio" and William Schmidt's "Latin Rhythms." Tenor Bruce Fowler, SFA assistant professor of voice, will join Salas for Jan Koetsier's "Galgenlieder."
A native of Alamo, in the Rio Grande Valley, Salas received his Bachelor of Music degree in tuba performance from Baylor University. He earned his Master of Music degree from the University of Kentucky in Lexington and is completing his Doctor of Musical Arts from the same institution.
Prior to his appointment at SFA in 2006, Salas was the artist/instructor of tuba and euphonium at Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand, where he served as the country's first full-time tuba-euphonium professor. He has also taught at Transylvania University in Lexington, Ky. and Marshall University in Huntington, W.V.
The recital is a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Music. The Cole Concert Hall is located in the Tom and Peggy Wright Music Building, 2210 Alumni Dr.
Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2 for students. For tickets or more information, please visit www.sfasu.edu/finearts or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.