Eine Alpensinfonie is Strauss's final and largest scale tone poem. Composed in 1915 (during WWI) Strauss puts into music his feelings of joy and mystery about the glory of nature, especially the mountains. He so loved the mountains that he built a home in the Bavarian Alps with stunning views.

The original work is scored for an enormous orchestra of at least 125 musicians and is about 50 minutes in length. This fantastic 6-minute arrangement by Randall Malmstrom, appropriate for advanced performers is for an 8-part Trombone Ensemble (1 alto, 5 tenors, and 2 bass trombones) and features excerpts from the work that highlight the trombone section's glorious chorals.

Venus, the Bringer of Peace from "The Planets" by Gustav Holst follows directly after the angry movement of Mars, the God of War. The mood is lyrical and gentle.

Randall Malmstrom's wonderful arrangement for 8-part Trombone ensemble captures the mood exactly with rich harmonies and textures.

The work can be performed by advanced performers.

Wagner began writing the opera Parsifal in 1857 but didn't complete it until 1882. It's first performance was given at Bayreuth just 4 months before his death. It is loosely based on a 13th-century epic poem of King Arthur and his quest for the Holy Grail.

Randall Malmstrom's beautiful arrangement of the music for 8-part Trombone Ensemble is noble and spiritual.

This 4-minute excerpt contains much of the Introduction or Vorspiel and is appropriate for advanced performers.

The instrumentation is for: 2 alto trombones, 4 tenor trombones, 2 bass trombones

Stuart O'Neil has written a new work entitled "Machinery" in 4 movements for 6-part Trombone ensemble and Percussion. Below is the composer's explanation of his exciting and dramatic work."The four pieces in this collection are written for 6-part trombone ensemble and accompanying percussion; they may be performed together or individually. Each piece is a study in the trombone?s distinct glissando capability and should be approached in a relatively aggressive, but not overly serious, manner: concert music, but with considerable jazz-rock influence, especially in regards to rhythm and dynamics. The pieces are similar, but each has its own character."1. Machine is a well-oiled, highly-functioning machine, with all parts efficiently working together.2. Rush Hour is a hectic, busy traffic scene, but somewhat cartoon-like.3. Suspension Bridge is strong metal under extreme stress, straining but not breaking.4. Assembly Line is a factory conveyor belt: loud, busy, with lots of heavy machinery.This 10 minute work is appropriate for advanced performers.

iTromboni's Scott MacInnes is a Canadian trombonist and composer based in Victoria, BC. As a member of both the Pinnacle Brass Quintet and iTromboni, Scott primarily writes music for brass chamber groups. Song for You is a 3-minute original work written in a pop ballad style for his wife. Each of the 5 parts has a moment to feature a player, making this ideal for 5 players rather than a larger group. The outer parts range from F1 to Db6 and inner parts are less extreme.

The world premier recording of this work is on iTromboni?s new album: ?T?Anguish?.

Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity from "The Planets" by Gustav Holst is a lively, buoyant and noble movement from this great suite for orchestra. Randall Malmstrom has defied the rules again and brilliantly arranged this movement for 8-part Trombone Ensemble.

The 3 1/2 minute movement is arranged for advanced performers and will be an outstanding addition to your program.

Hill Country Miniatures for 8-part Trombone Ensemble was written by Richard J. Lawn in 2002 for the Trombone Choir at the University of Texas and its director Nathaniel Brickens. The work is dedicated to Donald Knaub its former director. It has become a staple in the American Trombone Ensemble repertoire since its original release. Mr. Lawn explains in the notes, his deep emotional connection to the Hill Country land and to his days at the Eastman School of Music, hearing the legendary Trombone Choir led by Emory Remington and following through to his days at the University of Texas with Knaub and Brickens, all of which inspired him to compose this work.

This music is about 15 minutes in length and is for advanced performers.

The four movements of the work are:

Hickory Cove - September 2001 - a lyrical, somber and solemn introductory movement.

Smithwick - a jaunty piece reflecting the Scottish and English heritage of this tiny Texas spot.

The Narrows - As part of the Colorado River narrows, it twists and turns its way through the Texas Hill Country. You can hear the gentle waters winding through the cliffs and slopes.

Blue Bonnet Boogie - The springtime brings a profusion of the Blue Bonnet, the Texas state flower. A sea of these swaying in the breeze brings out the good old down-home boogie-woogie! A jazz solo featuring Bass Trombone (written for Bill Reichenbach in mind) with solo written out or improvised using chord symbols adds a festive finish.

Cherry Classics is proud to be the new distributor of this great work.

Nielsen wrote Symphony No. 4 "The Inextinguishable" in 1916 against the backdrop of the First World War. The work expresses "the spirit of life...everything that moves, that wants to live...just life and motion...very varied...yet connected".

Randall Malmstrom has pulled together a 6-minute extract from this amazing work and arranged it for 7-part Trombone Ensemble, appropriate for advanced performers.

Saturn, The Bringer of Old Age has been beautifully arranged for 8-part Trombone Ensemble by Randall Malmstrom. The music is noble, mysterious, and ominous. This great 3-minute arrangement is appropriate for advanced performers

Here is what the arranger, Ross Holcombe says about his great scoring of this wonderful and unique work by Ives.

Ives finished the majority of his Concord Sonata, from which this movement is excerpted, in 1915. According to Ives, the piece reflects on the old Alcott house in Concord, MA, but I feel a greater struggle in this work than a mere journal about a piece of architecture. The fact that Ives quotes Beethoven?s 5th Symphony so extensively makes me wonder about his views on destiny, fate, the future, and the creative process.

The piece starts serenely but quickly devolves into uncertainty, doubt, and anger. A floating interlude brings us back to distant memories where we remember that we are shaped by our past, but have control of the direction of our future. Building on that realization and quickly gaining steam, the piece ends with a powerful and joyful climax. The angry Beethoven theme is transformed into one of power, hope, and light. A feeling of calm and contentment ends the piece, finally coming to rest on one simple C major chord.

This work is scored for 10 trombones: 1 alto, 7 tenor, and 2 bass trombones and is appropriate for advanced performers.

Richard Strauss's opera Die Frau ohne Schatten (The Woman Without a Shadow) was written between 1911 and 1917. He regarded it as one of his most important works. After an unenthusiastic opening night, it has now become part of the standard operatic repertoire.

Randall Malmstrom has brilliantly arranged some of the most outstanding parts of the opera for an 8-part Trombone Ensemble appropriate for advanced performers.

Sergei Rachmaninoff's Prelude Op. 3, No. 2 is one of the composer's most famous compositions and is also known as The Bells of Moscow since the introduction seems to reproduce the Kremlin's most solemn carillon chimes. (Wikipedia).

This fantastic arrangement in C minor (the original is in C#) by Kevin Dombrowski for 8-part Trombone Ensemble certainly retains the immense gravity and solemnity of the piano version if not more, with the rich and dramatic sounds of the trombones.

The 4-minute arrangement is appropriate for advanced performers.

La Peri is a ballet in one act by Paul Dukas, written in 1912 and first performed in Paris. The Fanfare was originally scored for full brass ensemble, however this great arrangement for Trombone Quintet by Andrew Poirier is one of the favorites of the Canadian Trombone Ensemble iTromboni.

For advanced performers, the work is about 2 minutes in length.

The March from the Second Suite in F for Military Band (Op. 28, No. 2) by Gustav Holst is a staple of the concert band repertoire. Andrew Poirier has masterfully arranged this band classic for trombone quintet (alto, 3 tenor, bass), complete with optional euphonium solo as in Holst?s original. This English folk song laden gem of about 4 1/2 minutes is sure to delight audiences and is suitable for advanced performers. This arrangement of the Holst March can be heard below and in its entirety on iTromboni?s recently released third album: ?T?Anguish?.