As a follow-up to the last blog- a student recently asked about my favorite chamber works with trombone. In the moment, I was not very articulate. These are my top five, maybe this will help!
Fisher Tull. Concerto for Trombone and Wood Wind Quintet
I love this work. The three movements program on any chamber recital very well or can be used to open or close a solo recital. It is one of the few works for wood winds and trombone and really one of the one or two works I know of for a full quintet (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and horn) and trombone. Fisher Tull is a great composer and uses so many specific trombonisms in the work it is just fun to perform.
I find it more and more important for trombonists to perform with wood winds. There seems to be more of a lack of understanding between the back and middle rows in orchestras. A lack of listening and communication that means we are missing some keys to being successful musicians. This work easily transitions students back into the conversational and listening mode.
Beethoven. Drei Equali
How often to you get to play a trombone quartet by Beethoven? It is a great work with many fantastic recordings. You can try this work on small bore instruments getting a closer to authentic sound. Additionally, who wouldn't want to know the funeral dirge used for Beethoven's funeral march?
There are some major difficulties with this work, particularly with younger players. Although all bass clef versions exist, be prepared for range issues, both low and high. Intonation issues are difficult for young chamber groups to work through, but worth it in the end.
Victor Ewald. Quintets 1-4.
Originally just through to be three brass quintets, for many years these pieces were considered the earliest brass quintet works published. Ewald writes in a string like fashion, probably because he himself played cello and other string instruments. Quintet No. 4 is also a String Quartet, making it particularly interesting to study.
These works are very difficult, but can be worked on my young collegiate musicians who can find a great deal of success with them. To add an additional interesting twist, use all conical bore instruments as Ewald would have done- tuba, euphonium, horn, and cornets!
Jean- Francois Victor Bellon. 12 Quintets
To the best of scholars knowledge today, these twelve quintets are the earliest and most significant quintets known today. Composed from 1848-1850 they are really nice. Fun to play and really great writing for brass quintet. The new editions are published by Editions Bim, along with a new book by Raymond Lapie about the quintets and Bellon. Interesting works that can make the next brass quintet gig include some older works.
And finally:
A trombone choir work!
G. Gabrieli. Canzona Septimi et Octavi Toni a12
This is an early work for Renaissance Trombone, Cornetto and voice. It is reduced to 12 trombone parts in many editions now and is a great work. You can teach your students about tiered dynamic use and having a large group (possibly over 40 trombones?) play very lightly and together. Maybe having 12 parts is moving away from the idea of chamber music, but it is still important to include. You can't beat Gabrieli on the trombone!
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