Playing The Wagner Tuba: A Handbook for Hornists

When I started thinking out of the box after turning in my tenure file and considered launching a publishing venture I really got going with ideas for projects. In all I do I try to think about questions such as what am I uniquely positioned to do? What unique experiences do I have? What unique things can I write?

Besides playing a lot of high horn professionally I have also played quite a bit of Wagner tuba, and I had notes that I have used with advanced students for years that could be expanded. The second of my initial publications, Playing the Wagner Tuba: A Handbook for Hornists, is a complete, practical guide to the literature and performance techniques of the Wagner tuba. The book includes complete parts (original notation and transposed) for Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7 and excerpts from Götterdämmerung and Eine Alpensymphonie. A “regular” publisher would never consider publishing on this topic, the market is limited, but there is a real need for it in the horn world. I am happy that I can help fill the need for a publication of this type.

One of the most visible hornists today, John Ericson has wide-ranging experience as an orchestral player, soloist, and teacher. Co-founder of the online magazine "Horn Matters", Ericson began his professional career with serving for six seasons as Third Horn in the Nashville Symphony. From there, he turned to full time teaching; first at the Crane School of Music (SUNY Potsdam) where he launched one of the first large horn websites: "Horn Articles Online." Since 2001 he has served on the faculty at Arizona State University, where he is Brass Area Coordinator. He has also performed with groups including the Indianapolis Symphony, the Phoenix Symphony, and the Rochester Philharmonic.