Ian Deterling

Bass Trombone Concerto No. 1 in D-Minor

Bass Trombone Concerto No. 1 in D-Minor, Op. 11a (2021)

  • for solo bass trombone and symphonic band

    • Bass Trombone Concerto No. 1 in D-Minor is a dark and magical journey through mystical lands that ends in a fiery dance.

    • Also available for bass clarinet, baritone saxophone, and tuba.

  • ca. 16:00

Score Videos

Score/Parts PDF Previews

Notes

  • Writing music is like creating abstract stories or movies; the various melodies and motifs are individual characters while the accompaniments are different settings where these characters develop and interact with one another.  As a very visual person, I tend to form images in my mind whenever I’m creating music. As my compositions develop and unfold over time, my mind connects the various melodies and different sections in a way that (to me) makes sense as a cohesive narrative. This concerto is a dark and magical journey through mystical lands that ends in a virtuosic dance. 

  • Darrin Milling (Bass Trombone Principal at São Paulo State Symphony) requested an adaptation of a quartet that I composed in 2019 for bass trombone and three percussionists into a concerto for bass trombone and symphonic band. The subtitle of this concerto is Quest, named after the original quartet.  

    • Bass Trombone Concerto No. 1 in D-Minor

      • I. Moderato con il peso

      • II. Andante con moto

      • III. Con moto

Performance Notes

  • Optional Parts 

    • Due to restrictions that limited the number of musicians allowed on stage for this concerto’s premiere by the McGill Wind Orchestra (because of the COVID pandemic), the following parts are optional if not available (these parts are either doubled or cross-cued in other instruments -  see ‘Cues’ below):

      • Contrabass Clarinet

      • Bass Trombone (not the soloist of course…)

      • Euphonium

      • Contrabass

  • Cues 

    • Cues should only be played if the cued instrument(s) are not present in the ensemble:

      - The Contrabass Clarinet is cued in the Tuba part (Mvt. I. measures 33-36) and the Baritone Saxophone part (Mvt. I., measures 79-88). 

    Mutes

    • Straight mutes are needed for the following parts: Trumpets 1-3, Horns 1-4, and Trombone 1. 

  • Timpani 

    • Suggested timpani tuning changes have been provided. A special thank you to Dr. Brett Jones for providing these suggestions. 

Instrumentation

  • Bass Trombone (solo)

  • Piccolo

  • Flute 1

  • Flute 2

  • Oboe

  • Bassoon

  • Bb Clarinets 1-3

  • Bass Clarinet

  • Contrabass Clarinet

  • Alto Saxophones 1-2

  • Tenor Saxophone

  • Baritone Saxophone

  • Bb Trumpets 1-3

  • F Horns 1-4

  • Trombones 1-2

  • Bass Trombone

  • Euphonium

  • Tuba

  • Contrabass

  • Percussion 1

    • Vibraphone; Tam-tam; Tambourine*; Bass Drum

  • Percussion 2

    • Glockenspiel; Chimes; Crash Cymbals; Tambourine*; Wind Chimes; Snare Drum; Suspended Cymbal

  • Timpani

    • Note: Percussion 1 and Percussion 2 can share the same Tambourine

Note:

  • The score is purchased as a PDF file, and is yours to keep.

  • Parts are licensed (“rented”) per performance, and are delivered as printed hard copies.

  • Solo Bass Trombone Part with Piano Reduction is available to be purchased as a PDF file.

  • MP3 Backing Tracks are available for solo bass trombone with audio accompaniment performances.