Dark Music for Bass Trombone and Percussion
Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2020 5:58 pm
I recently finished a quartet for bass trombone and percussion - it's a three-movement piece around 17-18 minutes total:
Here are a few words about the piece:
Movement I. Moderato con il peso
The opening movement is rather barbaric. The primeval timpani part (in all three movements) was written with rhythm and melodic contour being more important than the clarity of each individual note. This is contrasted by the mysteriously churning middle section (beginning at m75) with the constantly rising and falling harmonies in the marimba and vibraphone. The bass trombone has optional 8va and/or 8vb in all three movements; these octave displacements are at the performer’s discretion.
Movement II. Andante con moto
The second movement fades in from nothing. This perpetually churning ‘inner turmoil’ motif that is used throughout this movement is an elaboration of some ideas from the first movement. The vibraphone is played at times with the wood of the mallets for a more delicate timbre. Bursts of emotion akin to l’appel du vide pepper the middle sections. After reprising the opening, this lament fades into the void.
Movement III. Con moto
The finale is a tour de force. Many of the melodies are light in nature, but still exist under a darkened shroud. Constructed out of various polyrhythms, the motifs and accompaniment material builds and builds to the dramatic ending.
All parts are fairly demanding - perfect if you know three heavy-hitting percussionists! I'm also working on creating MP3s of the percussion parts so the entire thing could be performed as a piece for solo bass trombone with backing audio.
Here are a few words about the piece:
Movement I. Moderato con il peso
The opening movement is rather barbaric. The primeval timpani part (in all three movements) was written with rhythm and melodic contour being more important than the clarity of each individual note. This is contrasted by the mysteriously churning middle section (beginning at m75) with the constantly rising and falling harmonies in the marimba and vibraphone. The bass trombone has optional 8va and/or 8vb in all three movements; these octave displacements are at the performer’s discretion.
Movement II. Andante con moto
The second movement fades in from nothing. This perpetually churning ‘inner turmoil’ motif that is used throughout this movement is an elaboration of some ideas from the first movement. The vibraphone is played at times with the wood of the mallets for a more delicate timbre. Bursts of emotion akin to l’appel du vide pepper the middle sections. After reprising the opening, this lament fades into the void.
Movement III. Con moto
The finale is a tour de force. Many of the melodies are light in nature, but still exist under a darkened shroud. Constructed out of various polyrhythms, the motifs and accompaniment material builds and builds to the dramatic ending.
All parts are fairly demanding - perfect if you know three heavy-hitting percussionists! I'm also working on creating MP3s of the percussion parts so the entire thing could be performed as a piece for solo bass trombone with backing audio.
