Trombone Choir

Trombone

Trombone stuff

Playlist 1

Star Wars

John Williams

jimnova Star Wars

Classic Scores

It's been a while since I've done an overdub so I knew the next one had to be powerful...

In the Star Wars films I've always been fascinated by how Anakin Skywalker becomes Darth Vader. How does someone with such promise  have his sense of purpose so terribly twisted and misguided? How does he end up destroying everyone he loves and facing his beloved friend and mentor as an enemy?

I've always felt in many ways the music of John Williams tells these dramas better than the films. This trombone choir arrangement and overdub I did is a little suite I call "Lord Vader is Forged," It's a combination of "Anakin's Dark Deeds" (transcribed by ear by my good friend Shawn Standing) which goes attacca into "Battle of the Heroes." 

This is the music that accompanies the build up to, and ensuing light saber battle between Anakin and Obi Wan in "Revenge of the Sith" which ends with Anakin defeated and Lord Vader rising from the molten fires...

I especially find potent the transformation of the opening melody in the first minute, dark and round as it journeys towards rage and anger, unleashing fury.

I think I finally have an overdub to give "Duel of the Fates" a run for it's money...

Lord Vader is Forged

This is my overdub of my arrangement of "The Immolation Scene" from Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith.

This is the aftermath of "Lord Vader is Forged"...the fiery defeat of Anakin at Obi-Wan's hands. Incredibly dark and searing music as hubris and ego meets it's downfall...

On a personal note, I dedicate this to Jon Whitaker and my friends at the University of Alabama for hosting me in an incredible weekend of great music making!! More to come!!!!

The Immolation Scene

The Serenade No. 13 for strings in G major, K. 525 was written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1787. The work is more commonly known by the title Eine kleine Nachtmusik. The German title means "a little serenade", though it is often rendered more literally but less accurately as "a little night music". The work is written for a chamber ensemble of two violins, viola, and cello with optional double bass, but is often performed by string orchestras.

Mozart - Eine kleine Nachtmusik

Here's my overdub of my trombone ensemble arrangement of "Anakin's Theme" from Star Wars Episode 1, "The Phantom Menace." 

Much of this music is innocent and childlike as we see Anakin long before he's engulfed by the Dark Side of the Force. It moves through some rich lyrical material that sings of his love for his Mother but eventually arrives at a foreshadowing of the Imperial March most potently in the last few moments, as the low F minor harmony slowly blocks out the A major. The final double pedal A depicts the warning of the long fall Anakin will have from good into evil.

Another brilliant score by John Williams.

Anakin's Theme

From the Fruhling Posaunen performance, spring 1997

Prelude from the Holberg Suite

Fanfare Pour Prededer La Peri arr. Joseph Frye

Adagio from Sonata for 6 Trombones - Doug Bristol

Not sure what year this is from, more than likely 1999 or 2000 when we had two groups playing it. I think the lineup was Frye, Walker (?), Christian, Sullivan(?), & Proctor

Dance - Wilke Renwick

Rohan's Theme (The Lord of the Rings Soundtrack)

Here's my latest trombone choir arrangement and overdub: "Anakin's Dark Deeds" from Star Wars "Revenge of the Sith" composed by John Williams.

It begins with the music which sets the scene after Anakin has slaughtered all the Jedi younglings and the lamenting aftermath. This quickly gives way to the brutal violence that ensues as Anakin destroys all the figures standing politically in the way of the Emperor, clearing the path for the Empire to take complete control.

The brilliant interplay between the low incessant voices pushing harshly forward and the bright soaring dissonances in the extreme high register show Darth Vader at his most unhinged and barbaric. 

After the blazing G minor climax, the slow lamenting funeral march starts and gains momentum until finally the ringing D minor climax shows Vader, bathed in his own hubris waiting a top a mountain of fire, waiting to destroy the one person left in his way, his once friend, brother and mentor: Obi Wan Kenobi.

(Some of you may recognize the second half of this recording as the intro to my "Lord Vader is Forged" overdub. This recording is how the music is presented in the original soundtrack to "Revenge of the Sith". I thought it was more potent this way!)

Anakin's Dark Deeds

Here's my latest trombone choir arrangement and overdub: "Padmés Funeral" from Star Wars "Revenge of the Sith" composed by John Williams.

This is the music heard at the end of the film as Padmés funeral procession marches slowly in the streets of Theed on Naboo. She has died giving birth to the twins Luke and Leia. 

A powerful moment occurs as you look at Padmé in the casket and in her hands is the little trinket Anakin gave her…long before he was consumed with the evil and hate that turned him into Darth Vader…

I find this music so richly lamenting and languid as you realize it is the end of not just Padmé, but of freedom. John Williams again so beautifully captures this in music.

Padmés Funeral

Harry Potter Soundtrack - Hedwigs Theme

"The Star Wars gauntlet has been thrown..."

I think we all agree that Star Wars Episodes 1-3 can't touch Episodes 4-6...but...the music sure can!!! Best part of the films for me were the amazing scores. Here is my first foray into the Star Wars epoch, my overdub of my essentially 10 part arrangement (Although I expand it numerous places to 16 voices) of "The Flag Parade" from Star Wars Episode 1.

I've received numerous comments since I started these overdub projects about "When are you gonna do a Star Wars tune? Or "You should do a Star Wars tune!" So here is my first effort. I also decided to take my multiple tongueing out for a spin and give the bass trombones some melodies! 

Enjoy! I know I did!!!!  ;-)

The Flag Parade from Star Wars Ep.1

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

I though it was time to downshift the Star Wars journey for a moment. Here's my overdub of my arrangement of Yoda's theme which is from my all time favorite Star Wars film, Empire Strikes back.

This is dedicated to my old teacher, mentor, musical hero, but most importantly, friend, Norman Bolter. He is the Yoda of the trombone and of music!

Some 20 years I remember first hearing about him: Joined the Boston Symphony at 19, member of the Empire Brass, prolific and gifted composer, master teacher who battled back from playing injuries to command his rightful place as one of the great teachers.

I went up to Boston to have a lesson with him. I'd heard all these amazing recordings of him. I had this distinct image of him in my head. Then this 5'5" relatively small man peered at me at the Symphony Hall Stage entrance and said, "Jim?" I looked at him puzzled and he quickly said,"You thought I'd be bigger..."

As I compare him to Yoda as an allegory, it's startling if you adjust the language a bit it's significance to musicians:

Yoda: "Ohhh. Great warrior. Wars not make one great." 
Norman translation: "Oh he won how many auditions? Auditions not make a musician great."

Yoda: "Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you?  Hmm?  Hmm.  And well you should not."
Norman translation: A man who's 5'5" tall and buys shoes in the boys section of stores, can play louder and bigger and higher and faster and cleaner and more expressively than I can ever hope to dream...I need to listen to what he has to say closer.

Yoda's Theme

"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

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