Concerto for Trombone Quartet and Band

Eric Richards

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This work may also be found under the title Concerto for Four Trombones and Wind Ensemble.

General Info

Year: 2010
Duration: c. 15:55
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Eric Richards Music Services
Cost: Score and Parts - Unknown

Movements

1. Molto Ritmico – 3:55
2. Molto Expressivo - 5:50
3. Molto Fuoco et l'Anima - 5:40

Instrumentation

(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

This piece can be seen as the development of ideas and techniques explored in Three Scenes for American Trombone and Brass Orchestra.

In regard to movement structure and relationship, the concerto follows a typical three-movement global design:

I. Molto ritmico
The compositional goal of the first movement is the exposition and interplay of two primary themes. The solo quartet presents the thematic material and then performs variations and commentary on the themes.

II. Molto expressivo
In much of the music of the Western common practice, the musical role of the trombone in ensemble music is closely aligned with the voice, either in terms of support (e.g., doubling) or in function as a representation of the human voice. The intent of the second movement is to explore the beautiful, singing possibilities of the bass trombone. This movement emerged as an aria for bass trombone, trombone quartet and wind ensemble.

III. Molto fuoco e l’anima
The trombone plays a major role in the various tributaries of Afro-Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Brazilian music (e.g., son, mambo, bomba, plena, samba, partido alto, et al), and trombone artists such as Juan Pablo Torres, Raul de Souza, Papo Vasquez, and Conrad Herwig are well known among aficionados of these genres. Since many Latin bands use four trombones as the horn section to complement the singers and rhythm section, I decided to craft an energetic final movement using the solo quartet in a similar way. My goal was to create something sounding like “Bela Bartok meets Willie Colon.”

This work was commissioned for the Continental Trombone Quartet (Peter Madsen, Mark Rabideau, Doug Farwell, and Steve Wilson) by a consortium of four university band programs and one solo artist: the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, the University of Texas at El Paso, the University of Wyoming and Dr. Doug Farwell of Valdosta State University. The piece was premiered on April 6, 2010, by the University of Texas at El Paso Wind Symphony under the direction of Dr. Ron Hufstader.

- Program Note by composer

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

University of Texas-El Paso Wind Symphony (Phillip Clements, Gabriel Musella, Peter Shaw, conductors) - 7 March 2019 (84th Annual ABA National Convention)
University of Texas El Paso Wind Symphony (Bradley Genervo, conductor) – February 2017
University of Wyoming (Laramie) Wind Symphony (Robert Belser, conductor; Continental Trombone Quartet) – 14 March 2012 (CBDNA 2012 Western/Northwestern Division Conference, Reno, Nev.)

Works for Winds by This Composer

Concerto for Trombone Quartet and Band (2010)
Dance of the Southern Lights (1985)
Dos Danzas Latinas (2002)
Hook! (as arranger) (1992)
A Klezmer Tribute! (as arranger)
Nocturne

Resources

Eric Richards website Accessed 19 March 2019
Perusal solo parts