Sonata for Trombone and Piano; Molto allegro

I agree with robin. The piece is playable, just not necessarily by me. The only things that would particularly scare me if I were performing it are those huge leaps (15ths and 16ths). Other than that, for the sections in treble clef, I agree with nightingale in that most trombonists would be more comfortable with tenor clef than with treble clef, but you don't really need to switch clefs anyway. I've played stuff with the D above the highest note in this piece written in bass clef. I had to count ledger lines before playing it to make sure it was what I thought it was (unfortunately it was), but this piece can be written entirely in bass clef. I disagree with nightingale about the difficulty of the gaba sixteenth notes. I've found generally that it's easier to just go back and forth between two positions than to do weird things like 7th-4th-2nd-5th, for example, and since gaba is just 4-2-4-2, it's not a problem. If I'm not mistaken, you didn't write anything that would require an F attatchment, although having one would simplify some of the faster bits significantly. Overall, it looks like it would be fun, and I'll listen to it when I get a chance.

Well, maybe I'm not as skilled a trombonist as I thought I was, but I just see so many traps waiting in this trombone part. I consider myself a middle-average trombonist, and there are certain things that would make my head spin. Djf is right, that gaba sequence is 4-2-4-2, I don't know why I was thinking of Bb, but it still proves to be a very quick excange for the slide.

If it is indeed playable, as everyone says it is, it is definitely the hardest trombone piece I've ever seen. I certainly wouldn't say it could be played with "ease" as others seem to suggest, but all the notes are definitely playable. I would suggest trying to get it performed live and see what comes out of it. Obviously you'll have to rely on your performer to make these suggestions, and he may change parts as he finds necessary.

Tonally I think it is quite nice (with the exception of the mini-cadenzas that seem slightly out of place). I will note one more thing, though. Typically, the composer will notate the cadenza atleast in part so that the instrumentalist has a background from which to develop. I suppose that's all I am qualified to suggest at this point. Sorry to waste your time.

You didn't waste my time!
My trombonist will have to learn the sonata in less than a month... do you think that's possible?

Any more comments would be also nice... the need not be from a trombonistically view!

Thanks
ralph

When I read the other reviews, I thought I was going to be in for a Harrison Birtwhistle Special. (Heard a piece by him and John Cage once. Thinking of it still gives me nightmares...)

It's a lovely, whimsical piece of great fun. I think some of the other reviewers here take themselves far too seriously. You obviously had a whale of a time composing this, it shows all the way through.

I'm no expert, but I can't hear any extraneous elements. It's just a great piece of energetic enjoyment. I'd love to see it used with a Keystone Cops short - it would be ideal.

Yours with a smile,

Chris.

How about the first movement mp3? Where did it go?

And are you German?

Ok, I've uploaded the first movement here (I've got limited webspace...): MEGAUPLOAD - The leading online storage and file delivery service
Yes I'm German. Was it my poor English or the .de-links?

It was the title of your Sonata.

Well, I've updated the first post. You've got all three movements now. Almost 35 minutes of music!

Some comments would be nice! Not only by tromboists ;-)

Its nice, but it would be nice if I actually saw the score on a pdf file. Other than that I'll comment on it more after I listen to it a few more times.

Did you listen to it again? I'll maybe put the score online later.