I can virtually guarantee that everyone reading this has heard the work of tubist Jim Self, even if they didn’t realize it. Since 1974, Self has been a freelance musician in Hollywood, performing in orchestras for over 1500 motion pictures and hundreds of TV shows and recordings. His tuba was the “Voice of the Mothership” from Close Encounters of the Third Kind and he has had solos in many of John Williams’ film scores including Jurassic Park, Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, and Hook. For other composers, Self has performed on the scores for James Horner’s Casper and Batteries Not Included, Marc Shaiman’s Sleepless in Seattle and in Jerry Goldsmith’s score to Dennis the Menace. His recent work includes Bridge of Spies, Star Wars 7: The Force Awakens, and Finding Dory. Self has recorded with the L.A. Philharmonic, LA Opera, Pasadena and Pacific symphonies, and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and currently holds principal tuba positions with the Pacific Symphony, Pasadena Symphony and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and principal tuba/cimbasso in the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra where he recently did a two-year run of the Wagner Ring Cycle and won a Grammy for Kurt Weill’s Mahagonny.
Self begins an artist-in-residency period with UT’s School of Music next week, but he’s no stranger—he was on the faculty of the School of Music in the early 1970s and was the Principal Tuba with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra during his time here.
As a composer, he has some 60 titles for brass, string and woodwind chamber music, works for band, orchestra, solo tuba, and trombone. The Pacific Symphony commissioned him to write a feature work for the orchestra called Tour de Force: Episodes for Orchestra. Subsequently, he has since scored Tour de Force for Wind Ensemble and a brass band version.
Aside from educational activities during his weeklong residency at UTSOM, there are several performances of Self’s compositional work that are free and open to the public.
Tuba Solos
Self’s former students Ronald Davis, Zach Collins, and Alexander Lapins perform solos written or inspired by Jim Self.
Monday, February 19 at 8 PM
Sandra G. Powell Recital Hall, Natalie Haslam Music Center
Chamber Music
Jim Self’s chamber music performed by UT student ensembles including the brass choir, tuba/euphoium ensemble, saxophone quartet, woodwind quintet, and brass quintet.
Tuesday, February 20 at 8 PM
Sandra G. Powell Recital Hall, Natalie Haslam Music Center
Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and Wind Ensemble
Program to include Jim Self’s Tour de Force
Thursday, February 22 at 8 p.m.
James R. Cox Auditorium, Alumni Memorial Bldg.
Jazz Recital
Jim Self presents a short jazz recital with UT faculty members Mark Boling-guitar, Donald Brown-piano, Keith Brown-drum set, Jon Hamar-bass, and Alan Wyatt-tenor saxophone, a faculty member at Lee University.
Friday, February 23 at 6 PM
Performance Hall 32, Alumni Memorial Bldg.
