Faye-Ellen Silverman

First Position

Year: 1992

Duration (in minutes): 7'39;

Difficulty: High (professional)

Category: mixed instrument ensemble, small chamber ensembles - 2 to 4 players

Instruments: any brass, marimba, trombone

Publisher: Subito Music Corporation

Description: "First Position" is built around the notes of the first slide position of a trombone, along with the intervals of the overtone series which are present between every two adjoining pitches. Thus the piece begins by emphasizing the low Bb pedal tone, then the Bb one octave higher. The phrase that follows makes much use of octaves. The next pitch emphasized is F (the second harmonic over the low Bb pedal tone). Gradually the piece expands to include the higher partials, and takes advantage of a wider range (including glissandi encompassing many partials in rapid succession.) The climax of the piece, prior to the extended trombone cadenza, emphasizes D and Ab - other pitches culled from the overtone series on the first position. This work, written for the First International Women's Brass Conference, is meant to be a showcase for the two players involved