HiJinks by Anthony O'Toole
College
College of Visual and Performing Arts
Department
Music
Faculty Mentor
Douglas Black Jr., D.M.A., and Tomoko Deguchi, Ph.D.
Abstract
Composer Anthony O’Toole was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1990. While at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, HiJinks was commissioned to O’Toole by Adam Crowe, tubist with the Coast Guard Band. When O’Toole heard Crowe perform, he was impressed with his abilities, and wanted to compose a solo work that would show off all of Crowe’s skills, including technical dexterity and flexibility, a wide range, rhythmic precision, clarity of articulation, and a solid tone. HiJinks is a showpiece with a rhapsodic feel that contains several contrasting sections but with common thematic elements. HiJinks is a single-movement composition with six sections. The first section begins with a flowing accompaniment, with a free and heroic melody. The second section takes the listener on a playful journey as the tubist introduces the main theme of the piece. The third section demonstrates the lyrical ability of the tuba. The fourth section features a piano interlude with a heroic statement for the soloist, which also leads into the cadenza. The cadenza is one of comedic relief. The soloist has had too much fun on his or her journey and starts to become slightly disoriented. The sixth section acts as a recapitulation of the main theme from section two, while simultaneously pushing the music towards the end. As a composer, O’Toole combines his deep love for music and people to create engaging art. He believes that one should treat people like gold because they are the true measure of wealth.
Previously Presented/Performed?
Mid-Atlantic Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference, Greensboro, North Carolina, March 2018
Start Date
20-4-2018 2:45 PM
HiJinks by Anthony O'Toole
Barnes Recital Hall
Composer Anthony O’Toole was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1990. While at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, HiJinks was commissioned to O’Toole by Adam Crowe, tubist with the Coast Guard Band. When O’Toole heard Crowe perform, he was impressed with his abilities, and wanted to compose a solo work that would show off all of Crowe’s skills, including technical dexterity and flexibility, a wide range, rhythmic precision, clarity of articulation, and a solid tone. HiJinks is a showpiece with a rhapsodic feel that contains several contrasting sections but with common thematic elements. HiJinks is a single-movement composition with six sections. The first section begins with a flowing accompaniment, with a free and heroic melody. The second section takes the listener on a playful journey as the tubist introduces the main theme of the piece. The third section demonstrates the lyrical ability of the tuba. The fourth section features a piano interlude with a heroic statement for the soloist, which also leads into the cadenza. The cadenza is one of comedic relief. The soloist has had too much fun on his or her journey and starts to become slightly disoriented. The sixth section acts as a recapitulation of the main theme from section two, while simultaneously pushing the music towards the end. As a composer, O’Toole combines his deep love for music and people to create engaging art. He believes that one should treat people like gold because they are the true measure of wealth.
