SKU: CY.CC2642

Pledge was commissioned for an all American composers concert in April 2010 during the Butler School of Music's Second Annual Research Week. The piece was inspired by the composer's own feelings regarding America as well as the reputation the country has acquired throughout the world. This piece questions where the nation will go from here, and what the future may hold for its citizens. To compose the Bass Trombone melody for the A section of the piece he set the text of the Pledge of Allegiance to music, resulting in a singing, syllabic style.

The work (all in bass clef) is about 4 minutes in length and can be performed by intermediate (taking the lower octave option bars) to moderately advanced performers. The range of the Bass Trombone part goes from a pedal G to an optional high B-flat above the staff.

SKU: CY.CC2835

Composer John Frith has written a new solo virtuosic work for Bass Trombone with Piano accompaniment of about 3 minutes in length. Read below to see what his thoughts are about his composition for Jonathan Warburton.
I have written a number of pieces (over many years) for Jonathan Warburton who also commissioned ‘Sons of Thunder' in 2015. Jon's gift for musical ‘acrobatics' gave me the idea of creating a short, high-energy work that would give vent to his exceptional range and flexibility. The central section is muted and relatively calm but it is not long before the music builds and the opening material returns. A solo cadenza creates a welcome calm interlude before the storm gathers once again as the piece builds to a momentous fortissimo before grinding to a thunderous halt!
‘Sons of Thunder' is the nickname given by Jesus to the apostles James and John, possibly reflecting their lively characters……I'm guessing that theirs were not too unlike Jonathan's ebullient personality!.