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.

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.

Hans Leo Hassler (1564-1612), son of an organist, was born in Nuremberg and received his initial training in music from his father. As a young man he studied in Venice and became close friends with Giovanni Gabrieli, both eventually studying composition with Giovanni's Uncle Andrea. Hassler gained a reputation as an innovative composer and also traveled throughout Germany as a consultant in the construction of pipe organs.

Dr. Palmer has transcribed this exciting 3 minute work for 6-part Trombone Ensemble. It will work well for intermediate performers.

Verbum caro factum est is a beautiful choral work written in antiphonal style. The text has been taken by Hassler from the first chapter of the St. John Gospel and is considered an ancient carol of Christmas based on the text.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:14)
And we have beheld His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)

And we have beheld His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
And we have beheld His glory,
glory as of the only Son from the Father,
full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

Hear a choral rendition of this work on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80lkSRHhDyQ

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

Wagner composed five songs or lieder for voice and piano in 1857-58 based on poems by Mathilde Wesendonck, the wife of one of his patrons, and have thus been known as the Wesendonck Lieder over time. Three of them: Der Engel (The Angel), Schmerzen (Sorrows), and Tr�ume (Dreams) have been beautifully arranged for solo Trombone (may be performed on Tenor or Bass Trombone) and 5-part Trombone Ensemble by Bob Burnham. They are very beautiful to listen to!

Of musical interest....Wagner inscribed the movement Tr�ume as being a "study for Tristan and Isolde".

The three movements are about 9-minutes in length and this arrangement is appropriate for moderately advanced to advanced performers and will add a great deal of musical depth to your recital or concert.

Heinrich Sch�tz (1585-1672) wrote the Musikalische Exequien, opus 7 (SWV 279-281) for the funeral of Prince Heinrich Posthumus von Reuss (1572-1635). Prince Heinrich?s widow and sons commissioned the work upon his death and provided Sch�tz with Bible verses as the text, which were also inscribed on the prince?s coffin.

Two of the three parts of the Musikalische Exequien have been arranged for 8-part Trombone Ensemble in two different choirs. The first piece, Motet is reminiscent of Gabrieli's Sonatas. The second piece, Canticum Sineonis is dense, rich, and evokes deep spiritual suffering and loss.

Two Sacred Pieces have been exquisitely edited and arranged by Kenneth Biggs for moderately advanced performers and work very well with 2 Alto Trombones, 4 Tenor Trombones, and 2 Bass Trombones.

Symphony No. 9 in D minor by Anton Bruckner is his final work, unfinished and in 3 movements. Randall Malmstrom has arranged another great excerpt from the Austrian master, the Coda of Movement I for an 8-part Trombone Ensemble.

The Coda is solemn, majestic, spiritual, and leaves the listener spellbound, its effect being so overwhelming.

The arrangement of about 3 1/2 minutes in length is appropriate for advanced performers. The top part is in alto clef.

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.

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

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.

Beethoven's dramatic Overture to Egmont is a major staple in the orchestral repertoire. Randall Malmstrom's great new arrangement of the complete work for 8-part Trombone Ensemble works very well for advanced performers and can be a perfect addition to your next concert.