This book on the tuba is a companion for composers and players alike, deepening their understanding of this somewhat neglected family of instruments. It gives tuba players an opportunity to master and employ new performance techniques on their instrument, particularly in contemporary music.

Jack Adler-McKean offers helpful instruction in various tuning mechanisms, resonance properties, new forms of notation and contemporary practices. Using the most recent research, he subdivides and reconstructs processes of sound generation and modification to display the broad range of tonal possibilities in the tuba family, many of which can also be applied to other brass instruments.

The text is illustrated with numerous music examples and diagrams and is supplied with instructive audio samples which can be downloaded from the Baerenreiter website.

The author

Born in London in 1988, Jack Adler-McKean works primarily as a tuba player with a focus on contemporary music. He has played in orchestras including the WDR Sinfonieorchester Koln and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. He has also given solo and ensemble recitals, for example in New York and Buenos Aires with Klangforum Wien, Ensemble Modern and the Deutsche Oper Berlin.