TROMBONE SONATA

(2025) 16 mins

Commissioned by Li Kuang

INSTRUMENTATION trombone & piano

PREMIERE 23 January 2026, Lincoln Recital Hall,

Portland State University, WA

by Li Kuang (trombone), Julia Lee (piano)

Programme Note

Commissioned and dedicated to Dr. Likuang, this three-movement sonata was written to showcase both the lyrical voice and the dramatic energy of the trombone.

The opening movement bursts to life with the vitality of Brazilian choros. Dance-like rhythms and fiery gestures drive the music forward, while contrasting passages reveal moments of melancholy and reflection, before returning to the exuberant spirit of celebration.

The second movement shifts into a world of black-and-white cinema. Inspired by the lyricism of Hollywood’s Golden Age, its slow unfolding melodies invite the trombone to sing like a leading voice on the silver screen—nostalgic, intimate, and glowing with restrained passion.

The finale is concise yet intense, driven by uneasy rhythms. Its opening A theme is restless and energetic, while the contrasting B theme unfolds in a highly lyrical voice. In the middle of the movement, the music transforms under the influence of the first movement’s choros rhythm, as earlier motives return in new guises. The sonata races toward its conclusion in a brilliant recap that recalls material from the first movement, closing the work with urgency force.

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