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Reena Esmail

Composer

Sonata for trombone and piano

March 5, 2022 by

Sonata for Trombone and Piano
Brittany Lasch, trombone; Thomas Weaver, piano

Program Notes

I wrote this sonata at the beginning of 2022, as we began to find our way back to one another in-person, after years of separation and isolation during the pandemic. In this time of reconnection, there was so much to catch up on, so much to say — and yet I was struck by how much I suddenly felt I couldn’t say. Either I no longer had the right words, or perhaps I realized the pandemic had changed my relationships to the point where we no longer had that collective vision and understanding of the world, that shared context and vocabulary.

This music was my way of exploring all the things I could no longer say in words. The moments where something dark was roiling inside me, and I feared that letting it surface would be too destructive. The moments where I wanted to sharply disagree, to lash out, and knew I couldn’t. The moments of internal reflection and reckoning.

Maybe you also experienced some of these darker moments as the world came back together. I hope this piece speaks to you, somewhere in your own internal dialogue. Even if the pieces of our society no longer fit together as they used to, may we find the new context together.
___

This piece was written in close collaboration with Brittany Lasch — her insight and dynamism as a creative voice truly inspired the breadth of exploration in this work.

Performance Notes:

Much of the musical material in this piece comes directly from Hindustani classical music. The middle section of movement 1 is a chorale in Raag Megh. The melodic material in movement 2 alternates between Raag Chandrakauns and Raag Jog. Movement 3 is entirely in Raag Puriya Dhanashree. More material and audio guides will be available in the future.

Recording

see above

Audio Guide

Audio guides with information about performance techniques and reference materials are forthcoming. In the meantime, this video interview can provide some context about the piece:

Brittany Lasch and Reena Esmail discuss the Sonata

Premiere/Performances

This work was premiered on May 7, 2022 at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Rittenhouse Square, in Philadelphia, PA. This recital was made possible by Astral Artists.

Commissioners:

Dr. Brittany Lasch
Astral Artist Micro-Commission Fund

The MidAmerican Center for Contemporary Music at Bowling Green State University

CONSORTIUM MEMBERS:
Myles Blakemore
— Trombonist, U.S. Navy Band
Brad Edwards — Professor of Trombone, Arizona State University Vanessa Fralick — Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Richard Harris — Assistant Professor of Trombone, University of Denver Ross Holcombe — Assistant Principal Trombone, The Florida Orchestra Jeannie Little — Associate Professor of Low Brass, Montana State University John S. Neurohr — Professor of Trombone, Central Washington University Jemmie Robertson — Assistant Professor of Trombone, University of Florida Jason Robins — Alabama Symphony Orchestra
Corey Sansolo — Axiom Brass
Samuel Woodhead — Principal Trombone, U.S. Army Band

Press/Reviews

Related Catalog Items

  • Flute Sonata
  • Piano Trio
  • Meri Sakhi Ki Avaaz (My Sister’s Voice) -Piano Quintet
  • Take What You Need (singer+piano)

This piece is not yet available for sale — it is currently only available to the commissioning consortium members. It will be out of exclusivity in May 2024.

Please contact us if you would like to be informed when this piece becomes available.

Instrumentation: trombone and piano

Duration: 14′

Year: 2022

Movements:

Commissioned by: Brittany Lasch, Astral Artists and consortium

Program Notes

Recording

Audio Guide (for performers)

Premiere/Performances

Commissioners (full list)

Press/Reviews

Copyright © 2023 Reena Esmail | All Rights Reserved.