Gordon Cherry has been running Cherry Classics for over 20 years. He is a leading professional Trombonist in North America, having performed as Principal Trombonist of the Vancouver Symphony, and the CBC Radio Orchestra. As well, Gordon has taught hundreds of Brass students for over 30 years at the University of British Columbia and many international leading music festivals.Details
Here are the program notes of Trombotriptych for Trombone and Percussion by composer Brian Kershner.
Trombotriptych is the first piece I have written for the trombone in the main, solo role. I decided to mount the work as a duo with limited percussion, one player, and just two instruments, Woodblock and Bongos. The piece allowed me to learn about and explore the many extended techniques that the trombone can produce. I was grateful to work with the person, for whom the piece was written, Topher Logan, as this is such an immense help. The trombone is capable of great, almost oratorical power, as well as sweet, horn-like lyricism. There are portions of the piece which utilize a couple of different mutes, and the open and closed colors of the Harmon mute, slide and position changes for timbre color, glissandi, as well as multiphonics, which on this instrument are produced by using the voice, singing while playing. There are contrasting tempi in the work, including a middle section which seems barless, although is notated traditionally, and an up tempo section toward the end with exciting interplay between the instruments. It is hoped that the work captures the many sides of this most noble, heroic, and yet vocally pure member of the brass family.
The music is appropriate for very advanced performers and is about 9 minutes in length.
The brilliant performance of Trombotriptych features soloist Topher Logan on the Trombone.