TROMBONE
©2017 Wrong Note Media, Inc.
Second Edition Printing: 2025
979-0-800218-17-0
CONCERTO TODD GOODMAN for trombone and piano TROMBONE2
Total Duration | Durée totale | Gesamtdauer
18’00
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PROGRAM NOTES
CONCERTO2 TROMBONE
When I started writing concerti, I always said that I would never write more than one concerto for an instrument. I didn’t want to write a second Bass Clarinet Concerto until I gave the English horn some love. I also felt that by writing a second concerto, I was subconsciously saying that the first one wasn’t good, so I had to do it again. But that whole philosophy goes right out the window when someone you’ve looked up to your whole life asks you to write a second concerto.
My first Trombone Concerto was finished in 2010, and personally it was a monumental piece for me. Writing it forced me to grow tremendously and it forced me to step way outside my comfort zone—both wonderful things as an artist. So when Bruce Tychinski, one of my mentors from high school, asked me to write a second trombone concerto, I of course had to say yes. But, the task made me nervous. Would I be able to do it again? Will this piece fall short of what I said in the first one? All questions that I think every writer asks themselves.
So for this second concerto, I approached it as a continuation of the first. I wanted to keep telling the same sonic story of using the trombone in its wide range of styles, timbres, and abilities. This concerto is a sequel, of sorts. It’s organized into three movements. The first, Luminous, arcs back to the first movement of the first concerto, which is based on a majestic phrase that centers on the pitch, middle C. The music goes far away from there, but it keeps returning back to that middle C. Luminous does a similar thing. It opens with a playful figure centered around the D above middle C. That playful gesture is juxtaposed by a bright, vibrant figure in the accompaniment.
The second movement is called Letter to Gretchen. Gretchen is the daughter of Bruce Tychinski and hornist, Heidi Lucas for whom I wrote the chamber piece Wanderlust. I wrote this movement as a message from a parent who is telling their newborn about their future. A message that life is beautiful and that even though we all face trials and tribulations, the love of a parent is with you forever. And the last movement, Perpetuum Mobile, is the fireworks of the piece. Like the last movement of the first concerto, it’s full of energy and excitement!
Trombone Concerto No. 2 was recorded on the album Interplay by Bruce Tychinski and the University of Delaware Wind Ensemble. The piano reduction was recorded by Hugo Assunção and pianist Bernardo Pinhal.
For more music, please visit www.WrongNoteMedia.com
ABOUT THE COMPOSER
as of January 2025
TODD GOODMAN is a prominent figure in the contemporary classical music scene, pushing the boundaries of the genre with his unique style and vision. His music is performed and recorded around the globe by musicians of all levels—including, world-renowned soloists, top-tier professional ensembles, academic ensembles, and learners of all ages. Goodman has been the recipient of numerous awards, grants, commissions, and honors from organizations such as the American Prize, the British Trombone Society, the International Tuba Euphonium Association, the National Endowment for the Arts, New Music America, and many others. As an advocate for arts education, Goodman has served for over two decades in various compositional and educational residencies with orchestras, opera companies, performing arts centers, and academic institutions around the United States, and was a nominee for the very first Educator of the Year Grammy™ Award.
Recordings of Goodman’s music can be found on Wrong Note Media, Potenza, Hello Stage, Arts Laureate, Duquesne University Press, Bridge, and Push Records. Goodman holds degrees from the University of Colorado at Boulder, Duquesne University, and Kent State University, and has studied at l’École Normale de Musique in Paris, France, and the Aspen Music Festival in Aspen, Colorado. He currently resides outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
More information about Todd Goodman can be found at www.WrongNoteMedia.com.
FOR BRUCE
Thank you for always inspiring me to be my best!
“If you’re not prepared to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original.” - KEN ROBINSON
Movement Two Letter to Gretchen
Trombone
Movement Three Perpetuum Mobile
CHAMBER MUSIC
Dear Tomorrow (7’) - euphonium and piano WNM42101
MORE BRASS MUSIC FROM TODD GOODMAN
Sonata for Solo Bass Trombone (6’) - solo bass trombone WNM49702
Wanderlust (6’) - horn (euphonium), tuba, and piano WNM41701
CONCERTI
Trombone Concerto (18’) - trombone and accompaniment
piano WNM1101red orchestra WNM1101 wind ensemble WNM1101we
Trombone Concerto No. 2 (18’) - trombone and accompaniment winner of the British Trombone Society Composition Award piano WNM21701red orchestra WNM21701orch wind ensemble WNM21701
Tuba Concerto (18’) - tuba and accompaniment finalist for the Harvey Phillips Award for Excellence in Composition piano WNM11301red orchestra WNM11301 wind ensemble WNM11301we
Tuba Concerto No. 2 (18’) - tuba and accompaniment piano WNM12201red orchestra WNM12201 wind ensemble WNM12201we
