Elizabeth Raum: Turning Point for bass trombone and piano

Douglas Yeo, bass trombone
Michael Messer, piano
Composer Elizabeth Raum's program note to Turning Point:
"This piece was influenced by the Robert Burns poem, "To a Mouse," in which is found the famous line, "The best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry." The first theme starts out happily enough, a pleasant trombone melody over a harp-like accompaniment. The second theme, however, is less straightforward, shifting between major and minor with ominous foreshadowing until it is halted by a fierce interlude transforming the light hearted first theme into an angry introduction to the cadenza played by the nasal sound of the muted trombone. The music returns to the first theme, but this time it is in the minor key, somewhat sad and defeated. The second theme, likewise, is somber, but soon leads to a transition that is decidedly hopeful and the piece ends with a sense of the heroic."
Turning point is published by Cimarron Music Press:
www.cimarronmusic.com
Trombone by Yamaha, YBL-822G
Piano by Steinway
Caleb Ballard, recording engineer.
For more information about music at Wheaton College, visit:
www.wheaton.edu/conservatory
Follow Douglas Yeo's blog, "The Last Trombone," at:
www.thelasttrombone.com