Trombone Solo's

[timbloke]

I know this'll get a fair few responses.

Been playing tromb for many years and spent some time as first tromb both orchestrally and in bands, however i was never offered a solo and never really asked for one as i was young and nervous when doing solo stuff.

I went to university.

I'm not so young and nervous, and now I want to play a decent lively and fun, crowd pleaser of a solo. last year I played Wind Beneath My Wings on Bass Tromb which was a bit of an effort being at the top end of the register, and although a lovely piece not exactly what I want to do now. The Acrobat is the obvious one, but too predictable for me, I want to play something a little more unusual.

Any suggestions?

Incidently, I'm back on Tenor Tromb.

Look forward to your suggestions.

Tim

[Fishsta]

Here's the ones I've had a look at...

Played in concert:
The Acrobat - Yeah, it's the obvious one... but it's the crowd pleaser! Can be made all the better by going for a walk around the room whilst you play (you won't need the music if you practice enough) and "teasing" the band on the glisses... go up and then back down... and up... and down... and then up and GO!

Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Get a few extra glisses in there and it's a big hit. You're a Trombone player, you should be flamboyant! Think Freddie Mercury! :D

Concert Variations - Confidence is the key on this challenging solo... be prepared for that Top D at the end, and practice your double tonguing!

Ones I've just practiced:

Share My Yoke - Beautiful melody, no harsh tones in this one and you'll ensure there's not a dry eye in the house/park/any other venue

Love's Enchantment - Have your manly parts surgically removed first. You'll need it. :D Lovely solo, though.

The Laughing Trombone - This one's great! I'd love to have got chance to play it in concert, but I left the band before I could... :( You have to make the Trombone sound like it's laughing.. and there's plenty of glisses in it. Helps if you have gasometers for lungs.

Stardust - Another one in the higher registers... but still a good one!

"Elaine" from Tintagel - This is beautiful... I know it's a contest piece, but this movement as a Trombone solo is great.


And my personal favourite... another I wish I'd got a chance to play in a concert...

Count Your Blessings

It's a Salvation Army one, think of it as "Grandfather's Clock Theme and Variations" for Trombone! Needs a fast wrist and plenty of confidence.




re: The Acrobat... like I say, it's Cheese King of Cheese City, but the crowd ALWAYS love it, especially when you enjoy the performance yourself. Give them something to remember!

[BoozyBTrom]

Rhapsody For Trombone is Excellent as is Carmen Fantasy ( not sure if this is done for band however.)

Autumn Leaves is another good choice. Or the old favorite BLue Bells Of Scotland.

[flashbarry]

Hi,

Heres a few from Darrol Barry:-

Wind Beneath My Wings
The Summer Knows (for Ian Bousefield)
Blues & Cappricio (for Brett Baker)
Killing Me Softly
Love is All Around

[Highams]

I'm not a trombone player but have always liked Boliva, that used to be John Pollard's favourite at Grimethorpe, though I think the band parts are as difficult as the solo line.

www.euph9.freeserve.co.uk

[youngman]

What about Wise Guy or Blue John ??
I'm led to believe that the nightingale was originally written for trombone and is playable with a bit of work.
Missing You is a steady no. and quite classy. :D

[dave jake]

Leaning on a lampost very cheesy but brill,always goes down fantastic. Eat your heart out George Formby 8) 8)

[BoozyBTrom]

I'm led to believe that the nightingale was originally written for trombone and is playable with a bit of work.


Well harold moss the guy wgho wrote it was a trombone player. so you never know.

And a bit of trivia for you Harold Moss is the grandfather of the guy who plays Zack Dingle in Emmerdale.

Yes i know im sad.

[Colin]

At the risk here of 'blowing my own trombone', I'll be playing my own piece Meditation for Trombone with band in a concert this Saturday. If anyone is interested in the piece, there is an pdf of the solo part and an mp3 clip on my website.

[Lyndsay]

I have been playing James Curnow's Fantasy for Trombone. It has a nice melody but is also quite technically difficult in places (well I found out quite difficult!). Also I really like the arrangement of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot for trombone. If something easy is what you are after the Berceuse de Jocelyn is a good one to start off with I think.

[timbloke]

Thanks all, should give me something to get my teeth stuck into. :shock:

t

[angie]

do blue bells-it knocks the audience dead everytime! i played the band part with ian bousefield doing the solo and will never forget it

[Roger Thorne]

do blue bells-it knocks the audience dead everytime! i played the band part with ian bousefield doing the solo and will never forget it

Hi Angie,

I'll take a guess here - was that with the NYBB last year at Bradford?
If so, I heard it and timed the last variation at a crotchet = 190!! ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!

:wink:

[angie]

roger-
you guessed it!
what a spectacular concert that was!

[Keppler]

I heard it and timed the last variation at a crotchet = 190!! ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!


The dial on my crotchet doesn't go that high... you must have the super-deluxe-furry-dice version Roger..

[Roger Thorne]

Yeah! I got a free nodding dog and a Ford Cortina with it.

:wink:

[Phil Green]

"All the way", Frank Sinatra's version, one of the solo's in Mark Freeh's "Frankly Speaking". Brilliant.

[Bonesmalone]

Dark Eyes,

What a cracking solo, done it with Ratby Co - op, great to listen to and a good test to your playing register :

[jennyt125]

Hi All,

Can someone please tell me what the highest note is in 'Wind Beneath My Wings'. I'd love to play it but was told it gets quite top end heavy towards the end!

Thanks, Jenny

[JessopSmythe]

Can't seem to find my copy at the moment, but if I remember rightly the top note is a C#. The last line or two is all above the stave but it's not stupidly high.

[gerry]

Something new:

Polka Dots & Moonbeams - arr. Robin Dewhurst
Homelands - Robin Dewhurst
Star Of The East - Richard Grantham
The Volunteer - arr. Keith M. Wilkinson

These titles are recorded by Brett Baker & BB De Waldsang on 'Crusade'

+ Trombulation(for Trombone Trio) - Richard Grantham

All title available from:

Lake Music Publications
Netherlands

www.lake-music.com
info@lake-music.com

Gerry

[1st Position]

Hi Angie,

I'll take a guess here - was that with the NYBB last year at Bradford?
If so, I heard it and timed the last variation at a crotchet = 190!! ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!

:wink:

Stunning - without a doubt, but spare a thought for the rest of us poor ******s that play the trombone. We can't all do it at 190!

Try some of Alan Fernies arrangements - all superb. In The Wee Small Hours of the Morning, a classic song, slow as you like ala Sinatra.

Trombonology - best if you look at it before getting it out at band!

Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Judy Garland rather than Eva Cassidy.

If these don't work how about The Joker, played in the right mood, it will bring the house down, your solo cornet can play all the demisemihemisemidemi quavers he likes, but it's this one that the audience will remember.

[madandcrazytromboneguy]

hiya Tim

What difficulty of piece are you looking for?

a decent list mentioned so far but i may be able to suggest some others if you say what level of stuff you are after :)

[robcornet]

Stunning - without a doubt, but spare a thought for the rest of us poor ******s that play the trombone. We can't all do it at 190!

Try some of Alan Fernies arrangements - all superb. In The Wee Small Hours of the Morning, a classic song, slow as you like ala Sinatra.

Trombonology - best if you look at it before getting it out at band!

Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Judy Garland rather than Eva Cassidy.

If these don't work how about The Joker, played in the right mood, it will bring the house down, your solo cornet can play all the demisemihemisemidemi quavers he likes, but it's this one that the audience will remember.

We went on tour with Driffield Silver Band in August 2005 and Dave Howarth played the Joker on Trom and it went down a storm, especially the bits he somehow got it the middle like "Happy Birthday","When the red red robin" and "Old Faithful" to name a few. Our solo Trom Gordon played it last night with the band and did alright and he is only 15 years old, it was the band parts that let it down last night. Thers's one for me to practise!!:p

[1st Position]

Hi All,

Can someone please tell me what the highest note is in 'Wind Beneath My Wings'. I'd love to play it but was told it gets quite top end heavy towards the end!

Thanks, Jenny

The highest written note is top C (Bb Concert) - though there is an eight or sixteen bar ad lib, which gives you the opportunity to go higher if you wish. It is a fantastic solo to do, not easy, especially if you are the last soloist on, but well worth the time and effort to master it.

[Fletch01]

DON'T DO THE ACROBAT!!! i was forced to do the acrobat not so long ago and i can't stand it, it's way too predictable and cheesy!!! i agree with the concert variations suggestion and share my yolk is a good one too - show off the beatiful tone the trombone can have, none of this harsh stuff! :)

[WorldofBrass.com]

Why not consider this selection of quality solos from The Salvation Army journals?

A Never-Failing Friend (http://www.worldofbrass.com/acatalog/sps169sm.html) - Erik Leidzen; classic theme and variation solo.
Song of Exuberance (http://www.worldofbrass.com/acatalog/sps163sm.html) - Les Condon; Latin American flavoured solo. The foundation of the music is a recurring 'bolero' theme and the slow section is a tribute to American jazz using the old gospel song 'Trusting Jesus now'.
Fiesta (http://www.worldofbrass.com/acatalog/sps024sm.html) - Peter Graham; Written for his brother and full of Latin American style, this solo provides rhythmic challenge (and fun!) for both soloist and band.
The Guardian (http://www.worldofbrass.com/acatalog/sps231sm.html) - Peter Graham; Also written for his brother, this solo takes the form of a rhapsody for trombone and brass band with all of the material used being developed from the central theme, an alternative tune written by Ray Bowes for the words 'Jesus loves me'.The cantabile melody is followed by a sprightly allegro before a cadenza ushers in an exciting and rhythmic finale.
Softly Awakes My Heart (http://www.worldofbrass.com/acatalog/sps168sm.html) - Saint-Saens arr. Don Morrison; The famous aria, sung by 'Delilah' in the opera 'Samson and Delilah'.

[Alan Fernie]

[

QUOTE
Stunning - without a doubt, but spare a thought for the rest of us poor ******s that play the trombone. We can't all do it at 190!




I tried to play it in Switzerland recently, and bluffed my way through it at 120, with breaks to breathe! Surely doing at 190 must involve some kind of voodoo?
A safer and just as effective Arthur Pryor option than either "Bluebells" or "Love' Enchantment" is "Thoughts of Love". I played it in the only solo contests I've won, including the old Mineworkers' contest in a deserted Empress Ballroom in Blackpool at 8.30am on a Sunday!



Try some of Alan Fernies arrangements - all superb. In The Wee Small Hours of the Morning, a classic song, slow as you like ala Sinatra.

Trombonology - best if you look at it before getting it out at band!

Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Judy Garland rather than Eva Cassidy.


Thanks for that - I've also done "Ev'ry Time Say Goodbye" (Cole Porter), published by Kirklees, which I recorded with Newtongrange in 1992. It is my moment of glory as a trombonist when the then editor of the "Bandsman" mentioned it as "one of the best " of that year, alongside messrs. Baker, Hudson and Bousefeild - it's all been downhill from there!

I've also done "Misty" for trombone, although it's published,(by Obrasso) and has been recorded as, a Euph. solo. For the stratosphere merchants, it goes up to an F# above the stave! - not optional!!

Adrian Drover's stuff is brilliant - "Street-Scene", "My Funny Valentine", "Annie Laurie", "Red, Red Rose" etc. - all excellent, especially if you've got a strong head for heights!

[Fletch01]

Yeah Softly Awakes my Heart - Beatiful!!! i love it! :)