JAMES M. DAVID, composer
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Garden of the Gods

Garden of the Gods
Concertino for solo trombone and trombone choir


Advanced - $65 - ca. 9 minutes
​Purchase Score and Parts at Murphy Music Press
View Perusal Score (opens new window)


dedicated to Joseph Alessi, principal trombone, New York Philharmonic

commissioned by Dr. Bradley Palmer and the Columbus State University Trombone Choir

Program Notes:
Of all the beautiful places in Colorado, the one to which I most often return is the famous Garden of the Gods.  While certainly not the most massive or dramatic vista in the state, it instead holds an elusive character that is intimate, mischievous, and foreboding all at once.  The bizarre rock formations seem to take on their own distinct personalities, and this brief concerto for trombone and trombone choir depicts two of the most well known structures.  The “Cathedral Spires” are an extraordinarily delicate group of sandstone columns rising toward the mountains in the distance.  The first movement depicts them at dawn, just as the sun emerges from behind Pike’s Peak.  “The Three Graces” are large angular shapes that are grouped together near the center of the park.  During the day, they are surrounded by the hustle and bustle of visitors and almost seem to be having a busy conversation amongst themselves.  The driving allegro of the second movement displays the vibrancy and energy of the park, particularly the daring cyclists racing up and down steep inclines.  This piece is composed for and dedicated to Joe Alessi of the New York Philharmonic, and was commissioned by Dr. Brad Palmer and the Columbus State University Trombone Choir.
  • Home
  • about
  • wind ensemble
    • Message from Arecibo
    • Flying Jewels
    • Urban Light
    • Troublesome Fire
    • Symphony no. 1
    • Ghosts of the Old Year
    • Call to Commitment
    • With Soul Serene
    • March Tumbao
    • Lookfar
    • Menlo Park, 1879
    • Zephyrus
    • Flexible Instrumentation
    • Heartland Verses
    • Swing Landscape
    • I Saw the Figure 5 in Gold
    • Concerto for Vibraphone
    • The Moorlands
    • Big Four on the River
    • All Dark Is Now No More
    • Temple's Grace
    • From the Shaken Tower
    • Two-Lane Blacktop
    • Sinfonietta no. 3
  • compositions
    • wind ensemble
    • clarinet >
      • all clarinet works
      • clarinet sonata
      • AUTO '66 - Clarinet Concerto
    • saxophone >
      • all saxophone works
      • Saxophone Sonata
      • L'oiseau dans l'espace
      • Saxophone/Percussion Double Quartet
    • trombone >
      • all trombone works
      • Trombone Sonata
      • Five American Dances
      • Song of the Valar
      • Bass Trombone Sonata
      • Partiels 2
      • Garden of the Gods
    • Other Brass Works >
      • Of Unsurpassed Heroes
      • Trumpet Sonata
    • Percussion >
      • The Dandelion
      • NOLA - BELA - SOWEGA
    • large ensemble >
      • Tin Lizzies on Old Fall River
      • LASCAUX
      • KAFKA - Sax Concerto
    • chamber ensemble >
      • Clarinet and Horn Trio
    • solo / electroacoustic
    • choral / vocal >
      • KUBLA KHAN
  • contact
  • Report Performance