Concerto for tenor trombone and orchestra (2016)

I. Allegro energico

II. Lento misterioso

III. Allegro feroce

Duration : about 20 minutes

The score of the Concerto for tenor trombone and orchestra is available here in full score (link to Calameo).

The Concerto for tenor trombone and orchestra is commissioned by the Orchestre des Symphonistes d’Aquitaine, an orchestra under the direction of Philippe Mestres, a long-time friend of my parents. The latter has become used for several years to promote young talents and to create new works during his concerts with this orchestra. The creation took place in Marmande during a very “family” evening since the guest soloist was my brother Fabrice on tenor trombone, my father Paul in the orchestra (trumpet solo) and therefore myself to the composition.

The trombone, with its rich expressive palette and impressive dynamic range, offers great creative freedom. Capable of blowing hot and cold, singing as a cello can, or unleashing fury by the brilliance and power of its timbre, playing sometimes with tenderness sometimes with brutality, this instrument remains a particularly interesting protagonist for a composer. In this concerto in 3 movements (Fast-Slow-Fast), the brass are of course in the spotlight but the other instrumental families are not left either, giving some episodes the appearance of a concerto for orchestra. The three movements are designed in contrast but are intimately connected to each other through the use of generating motives.

The initial Allegro energico is distinguished by its preponderant rhythmic activity. The energy of the initial rhythmic figure played by the strings develops throughout this movement. Its modern language makes rich and colorful harmonies, mainly using rough-sounding chords based on superimposed fifths in various combinations. The structure is partly “mosaic” and partly arched. The original motif of the trombone serves as a generator material and is found throughout the concerto in different forms. A second, softer and quieter theme comes up twice, but it fails to win, the theme of the beginning coming back strongly to conclude the movement.

Entitled Lento misterioso, the second movement begins with a brief introduction and develops from an idea from the second theme of the initial movement. In a rather nocturnal and mysterious atmosphere, this movement gives pride of place to instruments with a “magic” sound (harp, vibraphone and glockenspiel).

The concerto ends with a very rhythmic movement Allegro feroce. The music develops on an ostinato with telluric sounds based on the initial motif of the trombone in the first movement. After a series of episodes and successive impulses, the finale ends in a big crescendo invading little by little all the orchestra until the final explosion.

I. Allegro energico

II. Lento misterioso

III. Allegro feroce