Sonata for bass trombone / Patrick McCarty -- Sonata for bass trombone / David Gillingham -- Vier ernste Gesange / Johannes Brahms -- Variations on turkey in the straw / James Markey. / text

The topic commonly referred to as trombone technique consists of four separate but related components. Those are Breathing and Air Support, Embouchure Control and Flexibility, Slide Precision and Timing, and Articulation. Regardless of the difficulty of the music to be performed, or of the trombonists’ skill level, mastery of these fundamental components is essential to successful performance. Throughout the twenty years that I have practiced, studied, and taught trombone performance technique, I have identified several technical deficiencies that seem to be common among many trombonists, myself included. I believe these deficiencies may be traced to flaws in the four fundamental components mentioned above. This dissertation seeks to explain the four fundamental components, identify the common deficiencies related to each component, and offer a method of addressing these deficiencies. There are three parts to this project. The first is the written element, the second consists of musical exercises, and the third element is an audio recording demonstration of the musical exercises. Contained within the written element, are the results of a survey conducted to determine the validity of the concepts of the four fundamental components. This dissertation project provides a clear and concise explanation of the four fundamental components of trombone performance technique. It also identifies common technical deficiencies. Furthermore, it prescribes a practical, systematic approach to eliminate these deficiencies through the development of necessary fundamentals. / Introduction -- Literature review -- Discussion of four technical components and common deficiencies -- Discussion of survey results -- Discussion of musical exercises -- Conclusion. / School of Music

Thesis (D.M.A.)--University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2009. / Title from title screen (site viewed June 26, 2009). PDF text: x, 76 p. : music ; 2 Mb. UMI publication number: AAT 3350252. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in microfilm and microfiche formats.

Thesis (D.M.A.)--University of Oklahoma, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 110-120).

Thesis (D.M.A.)--University of North Texas, 2008. / System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Accompanied by 4 recitals, recorded Mar. 1, 2004, Jan. 31, 2005, Jan. 30, 2006, and Apr. 21, 2008. Includes bibliographical references (p. 50-64), and discography (p. 41-49).

abstract: Vaclav Nelhybel (1919-1996) composed over 600 works, a significant number of which were never published. The trombone is included in more than 200 of Nelhybel’s compositions, some featuring the instrument in a solo role and also as a key contributor in many of his chamber and large ensemble works. The goal of this project is to bring this significant body of trombone literature into the light by examining his seventeen compositions that feature the trombone in solos and trombone ensembles; this paper also includes a select listing of other works by Nelhybel that include the trombone. The seventeen highlighted pieces include nine works for solo trombone and eight for trombone ensemble. This paper also contains background information on the composer and a brief discussion of his overall compositional history, focusing on the last thirty years of his life when he was most active as a composer and became one of the most prominent figures in the wind band movement in the United States. The central portion of the paper describes each of Nelhybel’s compositions that feature the trombone and is divided into three sections: the trombone as solo instrument in published works, an unpublished Concerto for bass trombone, and chamber works for two or more trombones alone. Discussions of key pedagogical aspects, recurring features and techniques, each piece’s difficulty level, and suggestions for performance are included for added depth. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Music 2019

The essay: 1) Establishes that there is a tradition of employing trombone in mixed chamber works, 2) Shows that there is a large body of chamber music composed since 1978 and 2010 in which no more than one trombone is employed, 3) Discusses works composed between 1978 and 2010 and discusses performance practice issues and obstacles in order to provide a resource for trombonists in the development and presentation of these works, 4) Presents, as a list, a survey of available mixed chamber music written since 1978 that utilizes one trombone.

The development of solo literature for the bass trombone came relatively late in the history of instruments. Though the development of solo literature for this instrument and the birth and development of jazz occurring at the same time in history may be coincidental, the influence of one on the other is undeniable. Because of the large percentage of solo bass trombone literature that is influenced by jazz due to this coincidence, it is necessary that even a classically trained bass trombonist include jazz as a part of the study curriculum. In order to exemplify the influences of jazz harmony and jazz style on bass trombone literature, it was decided that the pieces chosen would be either from the library of standard bass trombone literature or would be an outstanding example for this topic. Then, the stylistic influences must be proved as being derived from the jazz idiom. The same must be shown true for any jazz harmonies discussed. For this topic, the following pieces were chosen: Eugène Bozza's New Orleans composed in 1962, Alec Wilder's Sonata for Bass Trombone and Piano composed in 1969, and Daniel Schnyder's subZERO: Concerto for Bass Trombone and Orchestra composed in 1999.

Hosannah / Franz Liszt -- Sonata no. 3 in F major / Johann Ernst Galliard -- Concert allegro / Alexey Lebedev -- Frost fire / Eric Ewazen -- Variations on Palestrina's "Dona nobis pacem" / David Fetter -- Capriccio / Steven Verhelst -- Variations on "Turkey in the straw" / James Markey. / text

Sonata a 3 / H. I. F. Biber -- Trio sonata, op. 1, no. 6 / Tomaso Albinoni -- Trois pieces / Eugene Bozza -- Rebellion / Stephen Rush -- Triangles / John Stevens -- Penny Lane; Blackbird / John Lennon-Paul McCartney. / text