Nightingale Incorporated

As a trombonist, I tend to disagree with Robin on one key point: This trombone part is nearly impossible to play. If it were written for the top of the top, I would say they might be able to play it, but you would certainly have to be a virtuoso. 16th notes are certainly doable, but 16th note runs in this key at this speed are incredibly cumbersome. Not to say that they are impossible, but I have never seen a trombone part that expected that kind of flexibility from a horn. It could probably be done on a euphonium, but not likely on a trombone.

I agree that the switch to treble cleff is entirely unneccessary. Especially since you have high A's dispersed through out the part in bass clef. Trombonists aren't exactly comfortable with treble clef. If you were to change clefs, you might consider the tenor clef before the treble.

The range is all very playable, but the tessatura remains exceedingly high, and a player would have to show remarkable stamina to remain that high for that long with hardly any time for breaks between the beats. You have the horn above middle C almost all the time, which is somewhat of a sweet-spot for great trombone players, but still exceedingly taxing on the emboucher.

Range aside, the sudden drops below the staff are awkward and unneccesary. You can get the same effect by dropping half the distance. The middle range of the trombone is not explored very much in this piece at all. You seem to marvel at the extreme high and low registers. Be aware that low e's, though not at all impossible to play, are typically difficult to approach. Likewise, high A's are not entirely difficult to play, but I think you'll find they sound much different in the settings you have given them.

Also, your slides are sometimes overused. Trombones love to gliss, but to give them too many in one song just makes it sound sloppy. It's better to focus on some of the other techniques a trombone can offer (peddle tones, flutter tongue, lip trills, lip slurs, etc.) Getting caught up in the one effect is pretty trite and detracts from the over all greatness of the piece.

In my opinion, this is a great work that has been vey well written, but will never stand alone in a live performance. The trombone part is simply too hard and too fast to be played with the precision you are requiring.