Review

Thomas Zugger
Midnight Sounds: Alaskan Images:

Columbus, OH, United States
Publisher: Zuggermusic.com
Date of Publication: 2008
URL: http://www.zuggermusic.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 8 trombones

Composed by Capital University Trombone Professor Thomas Zugger, Midnight Sounds: Alaskan Images is a musical response to a 2008 trip to Alaska’s Resurrection Bay and the Denali National Park. This is a single movement work written for eight trombones in a tonal language similar to many of today’s high school band pieces with many open intervals and pedals. The four sections alternate between slow and fast tempi building to a strong finish. The parts sit well on the slide with limited upper register demands in the first and second parts with a moderately demanding bass trombone register in the eighth part. Rhythmic and ensemble demands are also well within the skill and familiarity of most high school trombonists. Midnight Sounds is available as a download from the composer’s site. The piece will work well for high school groups or situations with limited rehearsal time like master classes, honor bands and brass days.

-Andrew Glendening
University of Redlands