Concerto Breve: Conductor Score & Parts

Hartley writes for bass trombone with real understanding of the instrument's capabilities and character. This concerto respects both the technical demands and the lyrical possibilities of the instrument, giving students and advanced players a work that sounds thoughtful rather than pedagogical.

The concerto balances virtuosity with lyricism, offering passages that explore the instrument's range and agility alongside singing melodic sections that showcase its warm, resonant quality. You feel both the weight and flexibility of the bass trombone as a genuine solo voice.

Bass trombone soloists preparing advanced recital repertoire, or players ready to move beyond entry-level concertos. This work suits college-level performers and serious intermediate students who have developed control in the lower register and want technically rewarding material with musical depth.

• Balance the bass trombone against the piano carefully; the instrument's lower register can disappear without intentional support from the accompaniment.
• Attend to phrase shape in the melodic sections; bass trombone lines can blur into one another without clear architectural direction.
• Coordinate articulation between soloist and pianist at the outset to establish stylistic consistency for the entire work.

Include this on recitals alongside other contemporary American brass works, or pair it with a classical concerto to demonstrate the full arc of bass trombone repertoire. It also works well as a capstone performance for a studio student preparing to advance to the conservatory level.

• Control of intonation across the full bass trombone range
• Sustained legit sound in the lower register
• Technical facility including rapid tonguing and position changes
• Phrase shaping and musical interpretation at the advanced level
• Collaboration with pianists in a traditional concerto format