Concert for Trombone and Wind Ensemble: Conductor Score & Parts

Samuel Adler's orchestration opens this Russian gem to wind ensembles by replacing period instruments with modern concert band voices, making the trombone feature genuinely playable without losing Rimsky-Korsakov's distinctive orchestral character. The work sits perfectly in the repertoire as a centerpiece for a guest artist or advanced student soloist, offering substantial musical weight without overshadowing the ensemble's contribution.

Romantic opulence meets military swagger. The trombone commands the stage with lyrical passages that soar over a richly colored wind ensemble, alternating between intimate moments and grand, brass-forward climaxes. The orchestration dazzles without pretense, delivering the kind of musical satisfaction that rewards both performers and audience.

This concerto belongs in the hands of advanced wind ensembles with a strong trombone section and a capable soloist. It works equally well for community bands featuring a guest artist or school programs where a senior trombonist or visiting professional can anchor a concert.

• Balance the trombone soloist carefully in the opening sections; the arrangement gives the ensemble ample material, so adjust wind and brass dynamics to let the solo voice project without strain.
• Work the ensemble parts as a unified wind band, paying attention to Rimsky-Korsakov's typical doubling and sectional writing so the accompaniment sounds orchestral rather than band-like.
• Give the trombone player time to practice the exposed passages and optional cadenzas (if included in your parts); this is a showcase work, and the soloist needs confidence in the technical and expressive demands.

Program this as a featured showcase in a concert built around soloists and ensemble works, pairing it with lighter band fare to let its substantial musical content shine. The work's appeal to audiences and its stature in the trombone repertoire make it an ideal centerpiece for a concert honoring a departing soloist or launching a guest artist residency.

• Balancing solo and ensemble voices in a featured work
• Reading and executing Rimsky-Korsakov's orchestral doublings and colors in a wind band context
• Accompanying a virtuosic soloist with ensemble precision and support
• Understanding transposition and modern wind band instrumentation (bass clarinet, euphonium) in a historical arrangement