As the largest and lowest-pitched musical instrument in the brass family, the tuba doesn’t exactly conjure up a cool image for most people. However, the members of Tubassadors, a Tokyo-based quartet of young tuba players, are determined to change that perception.
“The tuba isn’t designed to play solos, so if we all play with full power, the sound becomes overwhelming, making it hard to distinguish the individual parts,” explains Keisuke Nishibu, 29. “Playing in an extended range outside the usual orchestral spectrum challenges us technically, but it also allows us to create musically daring performances.”
In addition to Nishibu, rounding out the Tubassadors are Tomohiro Sosogi, Kazuto Shikada and Soen Tamura.
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