John Fletcher (tubist)

John Fletcher ( * 1941, † 1987) was a British musician.

Life and work

He began his career as a horn player and changed only after finishing school in Pembroke ( Cambridge ) for tuba. His father Bernard taught Classical music at school and was a passionate musician. In the fall of 1964 he moved to London, where he received the position of tuba with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. When he left in 1966, the BBC Symphony Orchestra for his new position as Principal tuba with the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO ) to compete, he expressly requested in the contract that the possibility must exist to be able to accept commitments in the field of chamber music. This allowed him from 1966 to 1986 at the world famous Philip Jones Brass Ensemble ( PJBE ) play along. During this time was " Fletch " - as his friends called him - a legend.

As a member of the London Symphony Orchestra and the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble, as well as a teacher of master classes he traveled the world and enjoyed with his virtuosic and technically brilliant tuba game music enthusiasts of all generations.

The magazine The magazine has named John grammophone the "world 's foremost tuba player".

Edward Gregson, arguably the most important representative of the younger generation of composers in the UK, wrote his Tuba Concerto in 1976 on behalf of the Brass Band Torrebesses o 'th' Barn (Director: Roy Newsome ) for John Fletcher. The three-movement work quickly became popular and is the opinion of the composers whose compositions most listed. It presents a rather unusual solo instrument, the tuba, in a most effective way, both of their technical brilliance as well as from an amazing lyrical expressiveness.

Before John Fletcher the reputation of the tuba was not particularly large as a musical instrument. It was bands used only as a bass instrument in orchestras and Brass. Any use of the tuba as a solo instrument was widely ridiculed only. John Fletcher changed this by using his remarkable talent and showed the skills of the technical virtuosity of the tuba as a solo instrument.

As a teacher he hated pomposity and avoided the classic master -class situation. He preferred to explore the instrument with his students and avoided fast answers in favor of discussions with the students. He always made ​​do with it, to present his views with humor. He loved the kind of music that offered a challenging but rewarding task for the player and simultaneously evoked joy from the audience.

In 1967 he married the mezzo -soprano Margaret, with whom he had a daughter and a son. In March 1987, John Fletcher suffered a brain hemorrhage and died in October 1987.

The John Fletcher Trust Fund

In memory of the great Tubavirtuosen a fund was set up after his early death from friends and colleagues around the world. This fund supports young penniless musicians and allows them to attend courses at national youth brass bands and Youth Brass Bands. The profound impact of these courses on the musical development of the young players, it was also because that was John Fletcher 's heart.