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.

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.