Rapsodia Borealis

Søren Hyldgaard

Subtitle: A Nordic Rhapsody

General Info

Year: 2002
Duration: c. 16:20
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Amstel Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) – €290.65 | Score Only (print) - €10.75

Instrumentation

Full Score
Solo Trombone
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba I-II
String Bass
Harp
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV, including:

Bells
Crash Cymbals (2)
Gong
Marimba
Sizzle Cymbal
Snare Drum
Tenor Drum
Triangle
Vibraphone
Whip
Wind Chimes
Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

The invitation to write a concert piece for trombone happened in Copenhagen at the Tivoli Gardens concert hall in 1997. Attending rehearsals for my Hans Christian Andersen Suite for Wind Orchestra, I happened to be around for the rehearsal of Johan de Meij’s inspiring T-Bone Concerto performed by the phenomenal Jesper Juul Sørenson. I was particularly struck by the merging of technical virtuosity and lyrical expression -- and, first and last, how completely easy and effortlessly Jesper made it sound. He liked the flavor of my HCA Suite and invited me to compose a concert piece with him in mind. And here we are, some four years and many oeuvres later.

With Rapsodia Borealis I had in mind a sort of circular structure centered around a truly lyrical, cantabile theme -- a song of the north for the trombone (hence the title which means "Rhapsody of the North").

- Program Note by composer

Composed in a circular structure and centered around a lyrical, cantabile theme, this impressive work for trombone and wind orchestra takes full sonic advantage of the medium. It shows a lyrical side of the modern concert trombone.

- Program Note from publisher

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
Audio CD: The Danish Concert Band (Joren Misser Jensen, conductor; Jesper Juul Sorensen, trombone) - 2003

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Taipei Symphonic Winds (Shuang-Liang Hsu, conductor; Fabrice Millischer, trombone) – 8 March 2015
University of Kansas (Lawrence) Wind Ensemble (Paul Popiel, conductor; Michael Davidson, trombone) - 6 October 2013
Snow College (Ephraim, Utah) Wind Ensemble (Vance Larsen, conductor; Steve Hunter, trombone) – 20 March 2008 (CBDNA 2008 Western/Northwestern Division Conference, Reno, Nev.)

Works for Winds by This Composer

Surround Sound
The King’s March (arr. De Meij) (2004)
Tivoli Festival Overture (arr. De Meij)
Bagatelle
Hans Christian Andersen Suite (ed. De Meij) (1997)
Jules Verne on the Moon (2017)
Marche Americana (arr. De Meij) (1997)
Rapsodia Borealis (2002)

Resources

Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. "Soren Hyldgaard." Accessed 29 August 2021
Hyldgaard, S.; De Meij, J. (2002). Rapsodia Borealis: for Trombone & Wind Orchestra = [A Nordic Rhapsody] [score]. Amstel Music: Amsterdam, Netherlands.
"Rapsodia Borealis (for Trombone and Wind Orchestra)." The Music of Johan de Meij. Web. Accessed 29 August 2021