Bass Trombone Solo

In 2018, Spanish bass and contrabass trombonist Javier Colomer will record a new album that includes works for trombone and organ as well as for unaccompanied bass and contrabass trombones. The music on this disc spans four centuries, from Palestrina and Gabrielli through Handel, Schubert, and Faure, among others. The newest piece on the album – a work for unaccompanied contrabass trombone by American composer Frank Gulino – had not been completed at the time

Javier Colomer is an internationally renowned bass and contrabass trombone soloist and teacher who has given recitals and master classes across the globe for more than 25 years. During that time, Javier has performed with orchestras and wind bands both as an ensemble musician and concerto soloist, and presented masterclasses to over a thousand students from some of the world's leading conservatories and universities. He is a past member of the ITA Board of Advisors and also authored “The World of The Contrabass Trombone,” the first comprehensive method book for that instrument. Javier's advocacy of the contrabass trombone as a solo instrument is a natural extension of his experience as a performer and pedagogue, and he continues to regularly commission and premiere new works for the bass and contrabass trombones. Please visit www.javicolomer.com to learn more.

This concerto, commissioned by music teacher William T. Robinson, was originally scored for Bass Trombone and String Orchestra. This Piano reduction was done by the composer and is a three-movement work approximately nine minutes long, each movement leading directly to the next.

The first movement opens with a slow introduction based on quartal harmony. The main portion of the movement is an allegro that explores changing meters. The second movement is slow, with a mournful character. The modal harmony is centered around D minor. The third movement is in an Afro-Caribbean style. The second and third movements include cadenzas for the soloist.