Tennessee Tech Tuba Ensemble releases two new recordings

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (Dec. 12, 2003) — The Tennessee Tech Tuba Ensemble is living up to its reputation as the most recorded group of its kind.

Started in 1967 under the continuing direction of R. Winston Morris, the university’s student ensemble has just released two new compact discs, bringing its total number of recordings to 13 since 1975. One CD consists entirely of classical pieces, while the other is made up of pop and jazz.

With pieces such as Vivaldi’s “Winter” and Handel’s “Arrival of the Queen of Sheba,” the classical CD commemorates the TTTE’s unprecedented sixth performance at the Weill Recital Hall of New York’s famed Carnegie Hall and is titled simply Carnegie VI.

“The TTTE first appeared in the Carnegie Weill Recital Hall in 1976 and continues to be the only tuba ensemble to ever present full concerts on that world-famous stage,” said Morris.

“Superb, spectacular playing in every way!” said Rodger Vaughan in a review for the International Tuba/Euphonium Association’s Journal.

The pop and jazz CD — titled Play That Funky Tuba Right, Boy! — was recorded live when the TTTE entertained at the Grand National Adjudicators Invitational in Chattanooga, considered by many to be the most prestigious concert band and orchestra festival for high school performers in America today.

“Very few recordings give the feel of being there when you listen to them at home, but this CD takes you there and makes you feel you have a money-well-spent purchase to enjoy,” said Gail A. Robertson, an instructor of low brass at the University of Central Florida and Bethune-Cookman College.

“More than an hour of soul-satisfying sound and variety give you an at-home concert without the crowds, traffic and travel,” she continued.

Mark Custom Recording Service of Clarence, N.Y., produced both CDs, and they are also available directly from the tuba and euphonium studio in TTU’s Department of Music and Art.

For more information, visit the Mark Custom Recording web site at www.markcustom.com or the TTTE web site at http://orgs.tntech.edu/tuba/index.html or call Morris at 931/372-3168.

--Tracey LeFevre
This information posted December 12 2003