Two Italian Madrigals: 5 Trombones Score & Parts

Don Sweete has built a reputation for intelligent trombone arrangements that respect the idiom while unlocking new repertoire for brass ensembles. This pairing of Renaissance madrigals gives your quintet access to genuine early music without sacrificing the technical and musical demands that make rehearsal worthwhile at the college level.

These madrigals carry the intimate, conversational character of Renaissance vocal writing, now given warmth and resonance through the trombone choir. The interweaving lines create a sense of discovery and dialogue, with moments of harmonic richness balanced against playful textural contrasts.

University and college-level trombone quintets looking for substantial repertoire that bridges classical and early music traditions. This is ideal for ensembles with secure intonation and rhythmic independence who are ready for the demands of Renaissance counterpoint.

• Approach the text with the articulation and phrasing clarity of vocal madrigals; even though these are instrumentalists, the lines should sing with the independence of individual voices rather than blend into a homogeneous mass.
• Balance the five parts so that thematic material emerges distinctly. In Renaissance counterpoint, the ear should track individual lines, not just harmony.
• Use the score carefully to understand where Sweete has voiced the original material. His editorial choices about which voice gets which trombone will guide your interpretation.

Program this as a recital highlight that showcases your ensemble's musicality and textural control. It pairs naturally with other Early Music arrangements or Renaissance-inspired contemporary works, offering audiences a refreshing departure from standard brass repertoire.

• Reading and executing Renaissance counterpoint on a modern instrument
• Independent voice part clarity while maintaining ensemble blend
• Stylistically informed articulation and phrasing in Early Music
• Intonation precision across complex harmonic progressions
• Balancing five equal voices within a single ensemble