STEVENS John, Adagio

“Adagio” was composed in 1991. It was commissioned by T.U.B.A. to be premiered by the International College All-Star Ensemble at the 1992 International Tuba-Euphonium Conference in Lexington, Kentucky. The work was written in memory of Rayburn Wright, long time Professor of Jazz Studies at the Eastman School of Music, who had passed away earlier in the year. As my first teacher of arranging and composing, Mr. Wright was instrumental in launching my career as a composer and continues to be a great inspiration to me.The style of the piece was inspired by the many beautiful “adagios” in the orchestral repertoire.John Stevens