This is probably my favorite piece in all the world, and I am super impressed with how you did it on brass! As a former trombonist (my main instrument is piano, but I played trombone in grade school, high school, college bands, etc.) I can really appreciate what went into this. Kudos! And I'm glad to have found you on here to follow your other music, too. Keep it up!

Troopers 2022- "vorAcious"

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The Blue Knights 2015 Drum Corps International show entitled Because. They are the sixth place winners.

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The finals recording for 2009 Carolina Crown "The Grass is Always Greener". All rights belong to DCI

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My overdub of my arrangement of the Barber Adagio.

This was a tough one...in many ways. Many out there say,"Brass should never play Barbers Adagio." I totally disagree. It's very difficult...yes...but most things worthwhile are. I battled inside myself for quite a while, before deciding to release this into the world. The world of criticism out there can be harsh, but I can take it. This isn't about technical perfection, it's about the art we know and love as music.

When I was 15 years old, my mother, who I loved dearly, died suddenly, and I was the one who the one who found her, had to call 911, the whole 9 yards. Witnessing all that came to pass that day changed me overnight. 

At that point, being a musician stopped being something I just "did' and was good at...it became who I am. The music that helped both intensify my sadness but ultimately accept it and heal (as much as one can from such an event) was the old Bernstein NY Phil recording of Barbers Adagio. I've always loved that piece since. It's a window into my childhood, and it's end.

Exploring this piece again and revamping my original arrangement has been intense, in all possible levels and overlays...but a journey well worth the work. For me it's a shining example of technique, serving the message of the art.

Barber Adagio

Bluecoats 2016- “Down Side Up”

Okay...time to kick this Star Wars thing into overdrive. BIG TIME

Here's my overdub of my arrangement of Duel of the Fates from Star Wars Ep.1.

There's nothing to say. Let the music and the playing do the talking.

Duel of the Fates

"If only you knew the power...of the Dark Side..." - Darth Vader

"When you look at the Dark Side, careful you must be. For the Dark SIde looks back." - Yoda

Okay enough nerding out... Finally put this one together. I guess the dark side was too much for my old mic setup...after the first 4 bars it was fried. This is my maiden voyage with my new gear. "If only you knew the power...of the direct digital USB connection!"

Had a ton of fun doing this one. Who knew mutliple tongueing pedal Gs and Eflats could be sooo fun?!? 

I think this is the best villain theme of all time and how better to make it more sinister than on all trombones?!? Imbued with Vaders relentless energy...power of the dark side indeed.

Imperial March

One can hardly think of John Williams and not think of all his music for the Olympics. My first season in the Utah Symphony saw the 2002 Winter Olympics come to Salt Lake City. It was an incredible experience. The Utah Symphony and Mormon Tabernacle Choir recorded "Call of the Champions" by John Williams with him conducting for the opening ceremonies. 

Here is my overdub of my arrangement of a different Olympics piece of his called the Olympic Spirit.

Olympic Spirit

Time to bolt on some turbos, a supercharger, couple o rockets and hit the nitrous button for this 2 minutes of machine gun double tongueing...

This is my overdub of the fabulous arrangement by my good buddy Shawn Standing (done by ear I might add!!) of the theme song to the original TV show "The Green Hornet" that starred Bruce Lee, not the ho hum Seth Rogen movie. Some of you will recognize it from the movie "Kill Bill volume 1." This of course is missing the rhythm section but stands on its own awesomely!!

This especially goes out to those who I played in UUTE with (Utah's Ultimate Trombone Experience)!!

Green Hornet

As we approach Mother's day, I decided to overdub this piece for trombone quartet my father composed titled, "Songs my mother sang" in memory of my late mother, Ilektra Nova. She passed away 23 years ago, when I was only 15, but I still think of her often, especially on Mother's day. I remember how hard it was, that first Mother's day after she died.

Although not a trained musician, my mom was an avid lover and supporter of music. My father and her had a Hartford Symphony masterworks subscription. She was a tireless supporter of my musicianship and even bought me my first serious trombone (a Bach 42...which I still have!) only months before she died.

She loved many kinds of music but I remember she especially enjoyed repertoire that took her back to her roots of growing up "in the old country." Simple melodies and folk songs that I remember her having recordings of that she would listen to and sing along with. She was quite a natural singer! 

Many years later, I was talking to my Dad about her and reminiscing about these tunes. Turns out he had many of these recordings still. I asked if he would write a piece for trombone quartet that explored that music. When he sent me the score, I took it and did some editing and arranging into the version you hear on this overdub.

As I worked through these, it was like she was in the room with me...some of these songs are funny and corny, others are very heavy and dark but together paint a picture of my Mom in a way only music can.

There are five songs in this suite:

1.) I have you to love
2.) Let your hair down (a waltz my Dad played for his Mom)
3.) For you I'm grateful my love
4.) Autumn Rain, Let Us Cry Together
5.) There is Something That Remains

I have fond memories of premiering this piece with the Utah Trombone Authority (Rusty McKinney, Will Kimball and Mark Ammons).

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there!

Songs my mother sang

James Nova joined the Grammy award-winning Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in 2009 as second/utility trombone. In 2012, Nova made his solo debut with the PSO, performing Henri Tomasi’s Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra. Prior to that, he was a member of the Utah Symphony Orchestra where he served eight seasons as assistant principal/second trombone. 
 
Since 2012, James Nova has found a new passion in multitrack recording, also known as "overdubbing." Overdubbing is a process by which a musician records all the parts of a piece of music one by one and layers the recordings on top of each other to create a full ensemble. Nova has released dozens of stunning and virtuosic tracks of his own challenging arrangements of exciting repertoire for trombone choir. The arrangements employ many different trombones: contra bass, bass, tenor, small tenor, alto, and even soprano trombones!
 
James Nova has had a lifelong love of John Williams’ film scores and in December of 2017, he released a new overdub album for trombone choir, A Fall from Light to Dark. Through the chosen moments of John Williams’ masterful scores, this album musically chronicles the rise and descent of Anakin Skywalker as he transforms into Darth Vader. Truly a one-man show, this album’s transcriptions, playing, recording, editing, mixing, and mastering were all done by Nova himself.

James Nova has always been passionate about music education. When not on stage at Heinz Hall with the Pittsburgh Symphony, he can be found at the Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquesne University where he is adjunct trombone faculty, as well as the brass coach of the Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestras. Given their widespread popularity, Nova’s recordings are playing an impactful role in inspiring the next generation of musicians and budding recording artists and he is frequently invited to teach outside the region. Since 2012, he has completed more than 85 visits to prominent festivals (such as the International Trombone Festival, American Trombone Workshop, and the Korea Trombone Festival, among others) and reputable educational institutions (such as the Curtis Institute of Music, Juilliard School of Music, and New England Conservatory, among others) as the featured artist and educator in concerts, masterclasses, and clinics.

James Nova studied with Glenn Dodson at the Curtis Institute of Music followed by study with Norman Bolter at the New England Conservatory of Music. While in Boston, Nova played regularly with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops Orchestra, including recordings and television broadcasts as both principal and second trombone. 

James Nova is an S.E. Shires Artist and performs on his signature line of Greg Black Mouthpieces.

For more info, visit jimnova.com or hear his recordings at soundcloud.com/jimnova
 

Social media links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/james.nova.3
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimsupernova/ 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSNMj7Fm--kyxxXRTYqH00Q

Barber Adagio

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ThreeCardMonteBand

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