Description
Recording sample from “Vibrant Colors: Brass Music of Douglas Hedwig” (MSR1811)
Reflecting the Trombone Sonata’s fusion of both Western and Indian musical styles and traditions, the subtitle, Antarā, is a Sanskrit term that refers to the balance between opposing or conflicting influences. The trombone, with its slide mechanism, is especially well suited to the glissandi and gliding between pitches (“meend”) central to Indian musical style. Movement One may be thought of as a heroic journey towards discovery and knowledge (“yātrā”). The lyrical second movement is based upon a traditional Indian raga (“scale”) called Aydava-shādava, while the climactic final movement is fast-paced and rhythmically intense, as is typical of the concluding section of many Indian compositions and performances (“jhala”).
Commissioned by Adam Johnson.
Douglas Hedwig
The music of Douglas Hedwig (born 1951) has been performed throughout the U.S., Italy, Germany, England, Scotland, Belgium, South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia. Praised for the “coherent, yet adventurous character of his compositions” [Opus Klassiek, Netherlands), his music embraces “a wide range of musical styles…and showcases the eloquent sincerity of a contemporary American voice” [International Center for American Music].
Winner of both the Gaetano Amadeo Prize (Italy) and The American Prize in composition, Hedwig is recipient of awards and honors from the Siena Art Institute (Italy), Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts, and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Prior to turning his full creative attention to composition in 2012, he was a trumpet player with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for 27 years.
Dr. Hedwig is Professor Emeritus at the Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, and was formerly on the faculty of The Juilliard School (NYC).
https://www.douglashedwig.com/
