Foamer Fanfare for Solo Contrabass Tuba & Trombone Choir
SKU:
$40.00
$35.00
$35.00
per item
In 2014, I was asked to compose a short fanfare for Gene Pokorny and the group known as Mr. SC & The Wild Bones Gang. Those of you who know Gene know that he has a love for old steam locomotives. Gene had explained to me at one point that the locomotive fanatics who line the tracks to see them rumble by are known as "foamers" since they tend to "foam at the mouth" in awe of such raw power and torque wrapped up in steal and steam. Alas, this prompted me to want to write a 2.5 minute fanfare depicting such an event for solo contrabass tuba, 7 trombones and drums.
Perhaps whats most striking about this work is that I used a series of pitches I found from an online article about train whistles to come up with my collection of notes. The entire work is based on a five-siren horn: C, E, F#, A, (C again), and D#. I found this to be a most satisfying "horn sound" yet gave me more options of composition outside of a straight fully diminished-7 chord (that E/D# came in handy!). So, yes--those 5 notes are the only ones in this entire piece--no transpositions, no alterations. Five notes, baby!
The piece is sort of a solo for tuba--but more of a "highlight" for the Big Boy Tuba and the Big Boy playing it!! I encourage others to double the bass trombone part on and additional tuba if they wish to add even more oomph. There may be other adjustments desired as well: the mutes are optional in the trombones at the beginning, though if you decide to go con sordino you should certainly experiment with straight/cup/harmon to find your liking of a train off in the distant mountains. Also, feel free to adjust tempi as needed...these are ballpark figures.
Perhaps whats most striking about this work is that I used a series of pitches I found from an online article about train whistles to come up with my collection of notes. The entire work is based on a five-siren horn: C, E, F#, A, (C again), and D#. I found this to be a most satisfying "horn sound" yet gave me more options of composition outside of a straight fully diminished-7 chord (that E/D# came in handy!). So, yes--those 5 notes are the only ones in this entire piece--no transpositions, no alterations. Five notes, baby!
The piece is sort of a solo for tuba--but more of a "highlight" for the Big Boy Tuba and the Big Boy playing it!! I encourage others to double the bass trombone part on and additional tuba if they wish to add even more oomph. There may be other adjustments desired as well: the mutes are optional in the trombones at the beginning, though if you decide to go con sordino you should certainly experiment with straight/cup/harmon to find your liking of a train off in the distant mountains. Also, feel free to adjust tempi as needed...these are ballpark figures.