for Trombone Quartet
Instrumentation:
- Trombone 1
- Trombone 2
- Trombone 3
- Bass Trombone (4)
Program Notes:
I first saw the 1941 film Citizen Kane in December of 2021 in a film studies
class in high school, and ever since then I have been a fan of the film, but also a fan of the great Orson Welles and his movies. In March of 2022, I had the opportunity to see the film in the environment in which it was meant for, a huge 1930s theater. When I left that screening of Kane, I left with a particular fondness for the score, which was by American composer Bernard Herrmann. It was his first film score and from the first note in the eerie prelude to the last B Major Chord of the finale, it is as a masterclass of orchestration, harmony, and composition in general. This piece, Dramatic Episode, takes it inspiration from the prelude of Citizen Kane and the harmonies and music of Bernard Herrmann, it is my hope it acts as a tribute in some sense to Herrmann and what he did for film music, particularly in the world of dramatic films like Kane.
Performance Materials Available Directly from the Composer.