Brick in the Face
Now, for the pieces that are awesome in their power, the kind where you revel in the majesty of the moment.
To begin with, we should start with the Finale to the Pines of Rome (via Appia) (Resphigi). This is one extended (and very loud) blow. however, i would have to say that it is eclipsed by:
The Great Gate of Kiev (Pictures again). This one gets loud and stays that way, and then it SLOWS DOWN. the brass are literally falling out of their chairs by the end. But, you gotta love the bricks of sound getting pumped out of the back row.
Speaking of bricks, lets not forget Verdi’s Tuba Mirum (the brass fanfare in the Requiem). And while we are at it both Mozart’s and Verdi’s Dies Irae are powerful moments.
Next to Mozart’s Dies Irae is the Confutatis (all from the Requiem). All in all, i would have to say the Requiem’s are two of my favorite pieces.
Back to Prokofiev, the Montagues and the Capulets from his R&J is a great moment.
As a trombone player i feel obligated to mention Wagner. The Ride, Siegfried’s Funeral March, and the Intro to Act III of Lohengrin are all solid choices.
And who can forget Mahler 5. Two moments in particular come to mind. First, the trombone soli at the very end of the finale - my trombone teacher once described that entrance as “cataclysmic” and from that moment on I was in love (not with him, the music). Second is the bass trombone solo (okok, i think it is also played by the celli and tuba) in the back half of the second mvmt. I heard the CSO play this one at Ravinia (yay for free concerts!) and the sound that charley vernon (the bass trombonist) belted out was so thick you could bathe in it. Truly incomparable.
Till next time!
