Music for Trombone and Percussion: A Survey and Analysis of Performance Problems of Selected Representative Compositions

Abstract

The twentieth century has seen a tremendous growth in the use of the trombone and percussion instruments in chamber music. Stravinsky, in his L'Histoire du Soldat (1917) and Milhaud, in his La Creation du Monde (1927), helped lay the foundation. Two other works, Ionization (1931) by Edgar Varèse and Toccata (1942) by Carlos Chávez are the first of numerous works for percussion ensemble which have since been composed. So many developments of percussion instruments and their music are being made that many consider the twentieth century to be the "Age of Percussion". The trombone family (alto, tenor and bass) has experienced growth in literature and technical advancements but not quite to the degree of the percussion instruments. The development of the trombone choir by Emory Remington at the Eastman School of Music has led to its increased popularity in recent decades. The multiple trombone jazz groups of J. J. Johnson and Kai Winding in the 1950's and Urbie Green in the early 1960's have aided in the development of music written for the trombone. It has only been in the last two decades that music of the genre to be discussed here has been explored. Some of the earliest works that fit this category are Porter D. Henry's Suite for Trombone and Percussion and Vinko Globokar's Vibone for trombone and vibraphone, both of which date from 1963. Since that time, more than 90 works have been composed for one or more trombones and percussion instruments or for small mixed ensembles in which these instruments play a major role. The International Trombone Association and the Percussive Arts Society have done a great deal to advance both the literature and development for the trombone and for percussion. The following document will analyze performance problems involved in a number of representative works from the literature. It will also provide a listing of compositions for trombone and percussion alone or in a chamber music setting of up to five performers.