Trombone Compositions by Women Composers

Navigating through a database filled with names and links can feel overwhelming, I understand! I’ve received many requests about suggesting repertoire for contest lists, student recitals, professional recital programming, competitions, and auditions. In response, I’m planning to write several blog posts aimed at spotlighting specific pieces that I’ve personally reviewed and hold in high regard. However, these posts will only scratch the surface, so I encourage you to explore the entirety of the database as well! It’s brimming with remarkable compositions by talented women, catering to diverse tastes. Below, I’ve listed a few composers whose works resonate both with audiences and trombone players.

Gina Gillie has repertoire for tenor trombone, trombone choir, and brass trio. I’ve played several of these pieces – they are always crowd favorites! Solo pieces, Escapade (tenor or contrabass and piano) and Song for the Lost (tenor trombone and piano), are appropriate for students. Song for the Lost can even be played by talented high school students. If you record Escapade, let me know, so I can link it to the database – there is only a midi recording online. Gillie’s chamber music pieces are very melodic and accessible to all audiences. Brass Trio and Scenes from the Bayou are popular with my chamber group, Lantana Trio. Mountain Ascent is a beautiful and challenging trombone choir piece. This won the IWBC composition contest in 2021. Lastly, Whimsy is a fun piece for trombone, horn and piano.

Madeline Lee is another emerging American composer. Similar in style to Gillie, she has pieces for tenor and bass trombone solo and chamber music. Her solo pieces I would recommend are Echoes in Eternity for trombone and piano (also written for trombone octet), and Put me to Rest, a popular recital piece for bass trombone and piano. In the trombone choir category there are three pieces worth checking out. La Cathedrale has definitely made the rounds recently. Once you hear it, you’ll understand why. It Begins in the Dark is Lee’s newer work for trombone choir – a nice challenge for professional or college studios, with both contrabass and alto trombone parts. Nyiri Sky is another trombone choir work featuring bass and tenor soloists. Matt Guilford and I played this at the DC Trombone Workshop in 2023. It was a lot of fun! It could be a great feature piece for grad student or guest artist soloists. (As an aside, the DC Trombone Workshop was the most diverse, welcoming college trombone festival I have ever seen. Send your students there!) Here is the trombone octet version midi of Echoes in Eternity. Let me know if you ever record it, so I can add the recording to my database.

Inez McComas is best discovered through live performances since her music involves recorded sound and sometimes video. If you are looking for some variety in your recital programming, she has a prolific list to check out! Unsheltered is for either trombone or contrabass trombone with recorded sound and optional video, thanks to Brad Edwards. American Muscle, A Quick Trip with Lots of Baggage, and Dead Buildings are both written for bass trombone and recorded sound, and The Ticket for the Train is written for contrabass and recorded sound. I’m looking for a recording of the last two if you have one. Instead of listing them individually here, check out her chamber music pieces that include recorded sound as well: https://womencomposersfortrombone.com/chamber-music/.

Keiko Takashima is a living Japanese composer who began composing in the 1960s. I was so happy to discover her music in 2023. She has a variety of different compositions for different skill levels. A lot of her music can be played by students. I would suggest buying them from the publisher in one shot, since there is a hefty additional shipping charge. Her trombone solo works I recommend are In the Silence of Night, and her Sonata “Breeze in the Hearts, Bloom in the World”. In the Silence of Night is one of my favorites and can be played by most college students (video coming soon along with a future post about intermediate solo works). Takashima’s chamber music output is certainly prolific. I especially like Memories, Passapied, and Square Dance for trombone quartet. Check out her other chamber works here: https://womencomposersfortrombone.com/chamber-music/.

Barbara York is a composer most of us have heard of. She unfortunately passed away in 2020, but her beautiful melodies live on in her music. A Caged Bird (versions for tenor and piano and bass and piano) was premiered by Ava Ordman at IWBC with the composer present. Three Romances for Susie was adapted from the original tuba and piano version for tenor trombone and is a nice alternative to Schumann on a recital. There are no tenor trombone recordings online, but plenty of great tuba soloists to listen to. I’ve performed the work on several recitals, and it’s always an audience favorite. One piece I performed recently on a recital that would be perfect for high school and college students is York’s Arioso Gloria (trombone video coming soon, but here’s an excellent euphonium recording). It’s written for euphonium but works great for trombone. Her Sonata “Bone Dances” is a compelling three movement work that I just added to the database. If you’re looking for trombone quartet repertoire, her Nocturne is a great three movement work that would work on any recital.

For more information on any of these pieces, refer to my database of women composers at womencomposersfortrombone.com. My previous blog post featuring an article I wrote for the ITA Journal several years ago has many other ideas. Happy programming!