Olosabut (1885)

While unknown today, composer William Pettee (1839-1891) was a remarkable musician and composer in his day, as evidenced by the fact that he wrote funeral music for Abraham Lincoln and General Ulysses S. Grant. His piece Olosabut ("tuba solo" spelled backwards) from 1885 is likely the oldest American tuba solo to survive to the 21st century. Like many works written during the Golden Age of Bands, a period spanning roughly 1880-1920, no score for this piece has previously been available - but thanks to editor Curtis Peacock's detailed research, this serious work for tuba can now be enjoyed by tubists everywhere.