tenor or bass trombone and piano
4’30”
composed 2009
premiered by trombonist Steve Trapani (Fresno, California)
Composer’s Note
My original concept behind Pompato was to write a flashy, "toccata-esque" work for Trombone and Piano. However, as I continued to flesh out my ideas around the piece, it became increasingly clear to me that there was more to this piece than simple flash and panache. A continuing descending sequence, highlighted by arpeggiated minor-major sevenths, dominate the core material that I was working with. It became natural, then, to allow that sequence to become a section all in its own, beginning in the highest portion of the trombones register, eventually making its way down to the bottom register of the instrument. Following a lyrical interlude involving both ascending and descending sequences, the music reverses the proce beginning at its lowest point of the piece and working its way back up. This section eventually settles on a climatic high-A pedal point, before once again heading to the stratosphere fo the final cadenza.
As far as the title of the work was concerned, it seemed wholly inappropriate to call the work "Toccata," considering that the Italian word translates as "to touch" (referring to the finger dexterity specific to keyboard and plucked-string instruments). The title of Pompato - "pumped" in Italian - made far more sense, as it is the pumping arm dexterity of the trombonist that is on display here. As an added bonus, the title comes with a nice secondary meaning. It would be hard not to be "pumped" when performing this work.
Pompato was composed for trombonist Ryan Terronez.