Item Number: S0.703425

Jan Freidlin's lush and beautiful Romantic Concerto for Trombone and Piano (reduction) was composed in 2004 and is in the traditional three movements. The 15-minute work is appropriate for advanced performers.

Below is what the composer has written about his work:

"Written in 2004 , this composition combines three contrasting movements, however their style is not typical of a classical concerto, nor of a romantic work.

The 1st movement - Moderato has a long recitative-like introduction performed by the soloist over a background of aleatoric sounds. The tonality is indefinite with many harmonic changes.

The music gradually builds up more and more leading the listener to the 2nd movement - Vivace energico in which there is, added rhythmic complexity. In the 2nd movement the main motive from the 1st movement is reintroduced and the mood gains in intensity with various syncopated rhythmic phrases as the piano and solo Trombonist accelerate together into a major climax.

With the energy drained out of the music by the conclusion of the 2nd movement the listener is brought to the 3rd movement - Adagietto. This movement is absolutely lyrical, elegiac and unexpectedly tonal. Its main melody has an atmosphere of nostalgia leading to the emotional center of the whole work, the softest climax of the Concerto . The soloist plays it in many tonalities, then gradually this warm wave eases, leaving the listener in a cathartic condition.

The Concerto contains many virtuosic moments for the soloist that sound very expressive and heroic."

Jan Freidlin

The mp3 sample contains a segment of each movement from a live performance of the Concerto performed by the Odessa Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, Conductor Igor Shavruk and Trombone solist Andrei Sokolov.

Fantasy Sonata, Op. 40 for Trombone and Piano by Benjamin Schroen is a work composed in 1900 which was forgotten and now rediscovered by musicologist and conductor, Dr. Keith Davies Jones.

Fantasy Sonata is written in the same virtuoso style as compositions of that period by Joseph Serafin Alschausky, and though quite challenging, it is fully idiomatic for the trombone. There is a passing ?reference? to the Concerto by Rimsky-Korsakov, and it is just possible that Schroen might have been familiar with that work as a trombonist himself. There are also some stylistic similarities to the Fantasia for trombone and organ Op.58 composed in the mid-19th century by Friedrich August Belcke (1795 ? 1874).

The 6.5-minute work featuring several short cadenzas, contrasting dramatic and expressive sections is in Romantic style, in bass and tenor clef and appropriate for intermediate to advanced performers.

Fantasie-Legende für Posaune und Klavier by early 20th Century Danish composer Axel Jørgensen was forgotten for quite a while but has been rediscovered, edited and recorded by noted Danish Trombonist and educator Niels-Ole Bo Johansen.

The work is in a late Romantic style with hints of expressionism, about 4 minutes in length and is appropriate for advanced intermediate level performers (range is up to a high B).

The beautifully performed sample is by Mr. Johansen and pianist Erik Kaltoft from the CD, The French Connection.

Not much is known about the origins of the Concertino, except that the three-movement work was most likely first written and performed by E-flat Cornet in the mid-19th Century by Sachse himself. Since that time, the work has been edited for Trombone and Bass Trombone.

Along with the David Concertino, the two works are great examples of German Romantic solo writing for the brass family.

Charles Vernon has arranged an excellent sounding edition for Alto Trombone and Piano of about 12 minutes in length for advanced performers.

Dvorak's Slavonic Dances are among his most popular and accessible compositions, performed by every level of orchestra worldwide and universally adored by music lovers.

Marc LaChance has arranged the energetic Slavonic Dance, Op. 72, No. 7 for Trombone and Piano. It can be performed by advanced musicians and is about 3 1/2 minutes in length.

The Sea-Shells Waltz was written in 1880 as part of a musical challenge Innes posed to the great French cornetist, Jules Levy. They were both in New York performing as soloists with the legendary Gilmore band for some summer concerts. Levy would play a solo and Innes would follow with an even more elaborate one. One day Levy brought in a new solo in which he injected his own extemporaneous cadenza made up of everything he could do on the cornet. When his turn came to play, Innes also had something up his sleeve. He had written a brand new solo for the trombone, entitled The Sea-Shells Waltz with a minute and one-half cadenza.

This legendary musical duel brought forth a delightful solo that has been rediscovered and edited by Trombonist Chris Buckholz. The solo is about 8-minutes in length for advanced performers.

Below is a gorgeous sample of some of the concert band version of the work (soon to be published) beautifully performed by Chris Buckholz, from his double CD album Versatility.

Brahms? 21 Hungarian Dances were completed in 1869 and sent to his publisher without opus numbers. Only three of the works are original compositions. The music mostly of one to five minutes in length was Brahm?s biggest seller, originally for solo Piano, but once they were arranged for piano four hands, they exploded in popularity.

James Miller has beautifully arranged five of them (1, 5, 7,8 and 9) for Trombone with Piano accompaniment and are appropriate very advanced performers.

The sound clips are of Mr. Miller from his solo CD album, Coast to Coast, featured on CD Baby.

Fantasy for Trombone and Piano was written in 1981 as a Christmas present for Richard Raum while he and Elizabeth Raum were performing with the Regina Symphony. Ms. Raum is a highly respected Canadian composer with a catalog of outstanding compositions, many featuring brass instrument solos.

Fantasy for Trombone is dramatic, lyrical and very expressive, making it an ideal recital choice.

The work has gained immense popularity since its debut, having been performed and recorded by major artists worldwide. It is 6 1/2 minutes in length and appropriate for advanced performers.

Performers are Gordon Cherry, trombone and Joyce Cherry, piano from a live recital in 1986.