Petros Shoujounian, an Armenian/Canadian composer has written Twelve Duos for Trombones based on the folksong collection of the Armenian priest Komitas, known as the founder of the Armenian national school of music and one of the pioneers of ethnomusicology. Below are comments from the composer about his inspiration in writing these Twelve Duos for Trombones.

My interest in the collected works of Komitas's ethnographical songs was aroused when I was introduced to Bela Bartok's similar works followed by Alan Hovhaness's huge creative world. Bartok completed his project having at his disposal a large collection of ethnographic music, while Hovhannes studied the wealth of Komitas's music with great interest. It is difficult to say to what extent the Armenian underpinning of Hovhannes's works is nurtured by Komitas's musical world, but his classical interpretation of the Armenian ethnographical music created a huge interest in the listener. Needless to say, there is also Aram Katchaturian's legacy, which at its core has the ardent presence of the Armenian spirit, nurtured by Komitas's very existence.

Komitas has left a collection of about 3,000 cleaned versions of the ethnographic song and dance pieces, of which 1,700 have reaches us, about 400 of which have been activated. I believe that in those beautiful musical fragments reside the power to be revived, once we enrich them with colorful musical instruments and unbounded polyphonic imagination.

This is the motivation behind my own work and these Twelve Duos for Trombones: to make the essence of our ethnographic music accessible through Komitas.

These Twelve Duos are appropriate for advanced performers and may be performed on Alto, Tenor, and Bass Trombones.

This book is a duet version of Christmas Carols for the Lonely Trombonist, with some slight modifications. Still technically and musically challenging, they provide great sight-reading and rehearsal practice for both players. Also playable on euphonium and baritone. It is more aimed towards advanced high school players and up. There are compatible versions of this book for trumpet, horn and tuba.

The following tunes are featured in this book:



Deck the Halls

Silent Night

Good King Wenceslas

O Holy Night

In Dulci Jubilo

We Three Kings

The First Noel

Joy to the World

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

O Christmas Tree

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

O Come, All Ye Faithful

Angels We Have Heard on High

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Jingle Bells