The San Jose Mercury-News ran a story about a physics professor and composer named Brian Holmes who says he was inspired to write a piece for chorus and tuba by John Updike’s poem, “Recital.”<\/p>\n
That composition will have its world premiere on May 31 at Lincoln Glen Church, featuring Symphony Silicon Valley tuba player Tony Clements as soloist.<\/p>\n
“Updike was inspired to write the poem after seeing a headline in the New York Times that read ‘Roger Bobo Gives Recital on the Tuba’ on a story about the tuba virtuoso who spent 25 years with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.<\/p>\n
“‘I agree with Updike that the words ‘Bobo’ and ‘tuba’ are immensely silly in one headline,’ Holmes says.<\/p>\n
“Updike took this silliness and ran with it; the first stanza of ‘Recital’ reads, ‘Eskimos in Manitoba \/ Barracuda off Aruba \/ Cock an ear when Roger Bobo \/ Starts to solo on the tuba.’<\/p>\n
“Holmes’ piece sticks to the poems text but plays with Bobo’s name a bit more.”<\/p>\n
According to the article by Anne Gelhaus<\/a>, it’s not the first time that Holmes has found inspiration in Updike.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The San Jose Mercury-News ran a story about a physics professor and composer named Brian Holmes who says he was inspired to write a piece for chorus and tuba by John Updike’s poem, “Recital.” That composition will have its world … Continue reading