This work was commissioned by Chitate Kagawa, former tubist with the Sapporo (Japan)
Symphony Orchestra in honor of his former teacher, Harvey Phillips, instructor of tuba at the
University of Indiana. Kagawa studied with Mr. Phillips from 1973-74 after being sponsored by the Japanese government as the first brass player to study abroad. In honor of Mr. Phillips, to whom this is dedicated, Kagawa asked Hiroshi Hoshina to write this Concertino. Hoshina is a graduate of the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and received a degree in composition. Upon graduation, he taught at the Tokyo College School of Music and Aichi Educational College and later at Hyougo Educational College. In writing this work he was challenged with making the tuba stand out from the band instead of blending into the sound. To do this he often sets the tuba or band alone, as if having a dialogue. Not including many technical challenges, he features the lyrical qualities of the tuba and demands musical nuance and advanced musicianship from the performer.