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 Träume (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 Träume 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.

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