Here is a description of the TRITONE Sonata for Trumpet and Piano by the composer, John Frith:

"One of my most enjoyable roles in music was conducting the Herefordshire Young People?s Orchestras (UK) in the late 1980s. Stuart Essenhigh was a very talented young trumpeter who toured Belgium with the orchestra as a soloist in 1989.

Encouraged by this experience Stuart went on to study in London graduating as a fine professional trumpeter working firstly in Hong Kong and then as a freelancer with major U.K. orchestras.

My TRITONE Sonata for Trumpet and Piano of 2016 was written specifically for Stuart. Each of its three movements uses the interval of a tritone in different ways. We hear it initially as a ?benign? element of the first movement; ?ironic? in the second and even ?playful? in the last.

I - Moderato

The use of a ?straight? mute to open and close this movement greatly enlarged my palate of sound colours and, together with some unconventional ?flutter- tonguing? techniques, it allowed me to emphasize the declamatory and strident possibilities of this powerful instrument?... I call for ?ffff? (fortissississimo) at one point! The muted coda creates an otherworldly? atmosphere - distant and questioning at the close.

II ? Andante espressivo ? piu mosso ? Tempo primo

The opening austere and angular melody (which demands great lip flexibility and control) leads to a relaxed and flowing ?piu mosso? with quasi baroque idioms. This builds towards florid, technical passages for the soloist which are matched by more assertive piano lines heralding the return of the opening material and a soulful resolution.

III ? Maestoso ? rondo

A traditional martial ?fanfare? opens the final movement by answering phrases from both instruments. There is something of a power struggle in progress here which is momentarily resolved at the ?rondo? where the piano accepts a supportive ?um-pa-pa? accompanimental role. The trumpet melody is dominant and confident but the piano gradually asserts itself propelling the music with a powerful ?boogie-woogie? style bass line. This encourages both instruments to climb ever higher in, what I trust will be, a thrilling race for the final bar." John Frith 2020

This work is about 12 minutes in length and is appropriate for advanced to virtuoso performers.

Fantasy Sonata, Op. 40 for Trombone and Piano by Benjamin Schroen is a work composed in 1900 which was forgotten and now rediscovered by musicologist and conductor, Dr. Keith Davies Jones.

Fantasy Sonata is written in the same virtuoso style as compositions of that period by Joseph Serafin Alschausky, and though quite challenging, it is fully idiomatic for the trombone. There is a passing ?reference? to the Concerto by Rimsky-Korsakov, and it is just possible that Schroen might have been familiar with that work as a trombonist himself. There are also some stylistic similarities to the Fantasia for trombone and organ Op.58 composed in the mid-19th century by Friedrich August Belcke (1795 ? 1874).

The 6.5-minute work featuring several short cadenzas, contrasting dramatic and expressive sections is in Romantic style, in bass and tenor clef and appropriate for intermediate to advanced performers.

John Davison's Sonata for Trumpet and Piano (1990) is a dynamic, lyrical, brilliant and heartfelt work written for Trumpet in B-flat and Piano. It is in the traditional three-movement Fast-Slow-Fast format with the piano part playing an integral role.

Movement 1, Allegro non troppo is melodic and rhythmic with a bouncy syncopated style.

Movement 2, Andantino has lyrical and tender moments, and also a haunting muted section.

Movement 3, Allegro is in multi-meter, full of dance-like, rhythmic and syncopated sections.

The 16 minute work is appropriate for advanced performers and can be the major work on a recital.

The sample track is performed brilliantly by Terry Everson, Trumpet and Susan Nowicki, Piano.

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.