Trombone Solo

Trombone or Euphonium BC Learn More

unaccompanied

A Prayer and Wings was composed in late fall 2008 after a trip to the outer banks of North Carolina and a visit to the Wright Brothers monument in Kitty Hawk. Seeing the memorial drew me to think of those first pioneers of flight, and the fear that they must have had to overcome to attempt to soar toward the horizon.

The first movement, Canto, is a prayer for the airmen, lead by the cantor. It should be performed facing the open piano (full stick) with the bell pointed at the strings. The cantor sings the prayer and then the congregation replies. In this instance, the congregation is not only the more complex rhythms, symbolizing the inaccurate entrances of many people, but also the echo created by the passive piano. The performer may improvise some of the rhythms to create even more echo. The second movement, Wings, is the actual flight, and should be performed facing the audience. The eighth notes are the wind that was the catalyst. Midway through the flight, the airmen begins to recite the prayer to himself (passive piano engaged) and a very slight echo is heard in the distance. Gradually the plane descends back to the ground and mans first flight has occurred. For the pianist, Ped. signifies depressing the sustain pedal, * denotes releasing the pedal. Learn More

ALIEN LOOP DE LOOPS for solo instrument and electronic recording by Howard J. Buss is a playful and capricious fantasy piece designed to appeal to a wide range of audiences. The title refers to both programmatic and technical elements in the composition. The composer envisioned a performer outside in an open area during an air show by an alien craft. During the opening section he/she is playing unaccompanied, but then is joined by the recording which contains sounds generated by traditional instruments as well as an "alien" voice, the spacecraft, and various electronic effects. Technically, the title refers to how the recording was made. It consists of numerous sound loops combined to form an imaginative and picturesque sonic tapestry. The publication includes the sheet music and a CD (attached to the inside of the back cover) that contains a performance track and the accompaniment track. Learn More

with Concert Band Learn More

Set in four movements, this unaccompanied Trombone piece works great for any holiday event.  It can be played in its entiriety or as individual movements.  The movements include:

I. Angels We Have Heard on High; Rock-a-Bye, My Dear Little Boy; Go, Tell it on a Mountain

II. Jesu Bambino; Let Us Adore Him; Joy to the World; O Come, All Ye Faithful

III. The Holly and the Ivy; The First Noel; Ding Dong Merrily on High

IV. Il le Né; Some Children See Him; What Child is This?

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CONCERTINO for alto trombone and string orchestra or Eb tenor horn (alto horn) or Eb tenor horn (alto horn) and string orchestra by Roger C. Vogel was written for Kevin Schoeller at the University of Georgia. The accompaniment is also playable with a string quintet, 2-1-1-1. The sense of adventure in making a journey away from home is the focus of this work. The three movements are inspired by the exhilaration of beginning the trip, the satisfaction and enjoyment of making progress when taking a rest stop, and the excitement and anticipation of reaching the goal. Learn More

Alto Trombone or Tenor Horn with Piano; The sense of adventure in making a journey away from home is the focus of Concertino. The three movements are inspired by the exhilaration of beginning the trip, the satisfaction and enjoyment of making progress when taking a rest stop, and the excitement and anticipation of reaching the goal. Learn More

with 4 Percussion: Inspired by Carl Sagan’s poetic observation about dreams: “Late at night, when it is very still and the obligatory dreams have been dreamt, the gazelles and dragons begin to stir.” Subdued, mystical sections contrast with energetic and rhythmic episodes in a manner resembling a progression of dreams. Percussion distribution: Percussion 1: Marimba, celesta (muted orchestra bells may be substituted), suspended cymbal, claves, and 2 cow bells; Percussion 2: Vibraphone, maracas, bass drum and temple blocks; Percussion 3: Orchestra bells, guiro, and 2 suspended cymbals; Percussion 4: Chimes (tubular bells), bongos, wind chimes, tam-tam, triangle, and lion roar. “Worth programming and highly recommended.” - Percussive Notes. Learn More

unaccompanied Learn More

Fnugg is one of the most popular compositions for tuba solo of all time.
Fnugg Red is a variation on this song and was originally written for tuba, trombone and orchestra.
This is a version for tuba and piano. 

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with Marimba Learn More

with downloadable backing track

Steven Snowden creates music for a diverse array of settings of settings inlcuding theater, dance, film, mutlimedia installations and the concert stage. Ground Round was inspired by the unique sound of cattle auctioneers in the United States. Their chant presents specific rhythms, pitches, and cadences that serve to intensify the auction process and encourage rapid bidding. The end result is a uniquely musical and mesmerizing form of communication. After listening and watching several auctions, Steven decided that this could be successfully explored by utilizing the unique voice-like characteristics of the trombone in conjunction with the live audio processing.

This piece employs live audio processing techniques via the Max/MSP programming language. The included program files can be executed with Max/MSP Runtime, which can be downloaded for free.

Electronics Needed: Microphone with Mic Stand, Computer with Max/MSP Runtime installed, Digital Audio Interface with at least 1 mic preamp, Speakers, Cables (to connect and power these devices). Instructions are included.

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Alto Trombone solo with Piano

Commissioned by Christan Griego Learn More

with Marimba: Inspired by the New England coastline at night and features an evocative interplay between turbulent and serene sections. ‘The Evening’s highlight, Night Tide was a stunning portrait of the sea’s ebb and flow.” - The Maine Sunday Telegram Recorded on the CD "Spanish Memoirs" by Manuel Quesada Benitez and Yu-Jung Chung. Learn More

ON THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT for solo trombone (playable on bass trombone) by Howard J. Buss traverses a wide variety of atmospheres, from ranging from gentle, mysterious passages, to intense and powerful exclamations. This work was written for trombonist, Dr. Brian Brink. Throughout there is a sense of mysticism, as if an incantation is taking place around the arrival of midnight. Various extended techniques enhance the traditional trombone sound, such as plunger effects, simultaneous singing and playing, flutter tonguing, growling, etc. The composition may be performed as a traditional concert piece or as a theatre piece. Learn More

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unaccompanied; An engaging, challenging work written for Bradley Kerns of Boston University Learn More

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unaccompanied Learn More